Saudi Urges U.S. Troop Deployment in Iran: Seizing a ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Reshape the Middle East – Live Coverage

by Jon Michael Raasch, US Political Correspondent

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince has called on Donald Trump to consider deploying ground forces in Iran, viewing the ongoing conflict as a pivotal chance to instigate regime change.

According to sources cited by the New York Times, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has engaged in multiple discussions with Trump over the past week, urging him to persist in the confrontation with Iran. MBS emphasized the importance of not leaving the mission unfinished.

The Crown Prince argued that, unless Iran’s government is completely dismantled, it would continue to pose a significant long-term threat to stability in the region.

Sources further revealed that MBS encouraged Trump to dispatch troops to seize control of Iran’s energy assets and expel the existing leadership from power.

Trump expressed concerns that escalating further could push oil prices even higher, with the national average gas price hitting $4.00 on Monday, up from $2.90 per gallon when the war began on February 28.

MBS’s private views contrast with Saudi’s public statements that highlight the kingdom’s desire for a diplomatic end to the war, which has led to retaliatory strikes on its energy sites and strangled its oil exports.