Senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia met in Washington with US counterparts to discuss potential military strikes against Tehran, Reuters reported. The meeting involved key security figures from both Middle Eastern nations engaging with Pentagon, CIA, and White House personnel.
This dialogue follows President Donald Trump’s recent demand that Iran negotiate a new nuclear accord or face military action by the United States. The buildup of US military assets in the Middle East has significantly elevated regional tensions in response to Tehran's stated threat of counter-strikes.
Shlomi Binder, the head of Israel’s military intelligence, reportedly shared specific intelligence regarding potential targets within Iran during his meetings on January twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth. Concurrently, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, also visited Washington to engage in parallel discussions with American officials.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, are actively attempting to de-escalate the situation and prevent a full-scale military confrontation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly communicated to Iranian President Massoud Peshmerga that Riyadh would not permit the use of Saudi airspace or territory for any offensive operations against Tehran.
The White House has not issued a formal comment regarding the content or outcomes of these sensitive security discussions. President Trump is reportedly examining various courses of action, potentially including targeted strikes on Iranian security facilities.
However, Israeli and Arab officials have privately suggested that limited air strikes alone are unlikely to achieve the objective of regime change in Tehran. This indicates a divergence in strategic goals regarding the desired long-term outcome of any potential US intervention.
The convergence of high-level security talks between the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia underscores the critical nature of the current geopolitical impasse with Iran. The outcome of these deliberations will heavily influence the immediate economic and security architecture of the Persian Gulf region.
