ARAB AND WORLD

Sun 01 Mar 2026 5:25 pm - Jerusalem Time

Israeli and Saudi Pressures Pushed Trump to Launch a Wide Attack on Iran

International press sources revealed the behind-the-scenes details of the widespread military attack launched by US President Donald Trump on Iran last Saturday. Reports indicated that this move was the result of weeks of intense pressure exerted by both Israel and Saudi Arabia, with the aim of fundamentally altering the balance of power in the region.

The sources noted that the lobbying efforts were led by two key US allies in the Middle East, where Israeli and Saudi interests converged on the necessity of curbing Iranian influence. This movement coincided with field and intelligence cooperation between American and Israeli forces aimed at overthrowing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dismantling the regime's structure.

In details of secret diplomatic maneuvers, information indicated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a series of private phone calls with Trump during the past month. The Saudi leader urged the US President on the necessity of direct military action, considering that leniency in confronting Tehran would make it more dangerous in the near future.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not cease his public and secret pressures, demanding devastating American strikes against what he describes as an existential enemy. These joint efforts contributed to crystallizing Trump's decision to issue orders to launch a comprehensive air campaign targeting command and control centers and military installations belonging to the Iranian army.

The paradox in the Saudi position emerged through the discrepancy between public rhetoric and secret deliberations; while Riyadh officially declared its adherence to diplomatic solutions and not allowing its territory to be used for attack, messages directed to Washington emphasized the necessity of utilizing the massive American military presence in the region to deliver a decisive blow.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman entered the crisis, holding closed meetings in Washington last January with high-ranking American officials. During those meetings, the Saudi minister warned of the negative repercussions of inaction, stressing that Iran represents the greatest threat to regional stability and common interests.

This military escalation came at a time when presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, were conducting complex negotiations with the Iranian side regarding the nuclear and missile files. It appears that the military path ultimately overshadowed the diplomatic attempts that sought to contain the crisis through dialogue.

Following the launch of the first wave of American attacks, sources recorded Iranian reactions targeting Saudi interests, which prompted Riyadh to issue a statement condemning the Iranian escalation. Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take decisive measures to confront Tehran, amidst increasing field complexities affecting energy security and infrastructure in the region.

Observers believe that Trump's decision represents a departure from traditional American policy that for decades avoided directly seeking to overthrow the regime in Tehran. This attack also reflects a radical shift in Trump's military strategy, which was previously characterized by limited operations and avoiding widespread interventions in Middle East conflicts.

In a message addressed to the Iranian people coinciding with the dropping of bombs, Trump affirmed that he had taken a step no previous president dared to take. The question remains about the extent to which these air operations can achieve sustainable political goals on the ground, in light of previous intelligence warnings that downplayed the direct Iranian threat to American territory.

No president was prepared to do what I am prepared to do tonight, now you have a president who gives you what you want.

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Israeli and Saudi Pressures Pushed Trump to Launch a Wide Attack on Iran

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