How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

[question everything]

Source: NYT

President Trump and his military commanders were in a bind. They had announced the start of a new mission to help guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had effectively closed early in the war. U.S. naval and air power would ward off any Iranian attacks during a tentative cease-fire, the commanders said.

But U.S. Central Command was caught by surprise when officials from Saudi Arabia said American forces could not use the kingdom’s air space for the mission, which the Pentagon was calling Project Freedom. The Americans had not consulted the Saudis.

That set off a flurry of tense and urgent phone calls between Washington and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the leader of Saudi Arabia. An outraged Mr. Trump spoke with him on May 4, the first day of the operation, and on the next two days as well, U.S. officials said.

(snip)

The all-hands campaign by the White House to sway Prince Mohammed, which has not previously been reported, and other crucial moments during the war revealed American and Saudi officials becoming increasingly at odds over how to approach security in the region, particularly with regard to Iran and Israel. And more and more, the Saudis see the U.S. government as unreliable and even on occasion a risk to Gulf Arab nations.


Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/trump-saudi-crown-prince-iran.html

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[lastlib]

1. Diplomacy is not a game for amateurs........

OR for idiots. We're stuck with both.

Dear Satan, PLEASE come and get your moron!

[dave99]

6. Satan wants no part of shitstain & Co.

[Drum]

11. Satan has been eyeing the door for a while...

[pat_k]

2. A risk to gulf nations "on occasion"

He is a constant risk to the entire f-ing planet.

[GusBob]

3. Correct me if I am wrong

As often I am

But was that not the root cause of the 9/11 attacks? Terrorists were upset that US forces were using Saudi space?

[wnylib]

12. You are correct.

[purr-rat beauty]

4. I would be pissed with this fucker tol

They are an official target for Iran while they host the U.S.

Trump is going to get us evicted from the region, he is weakening the U.S presence
abroad.

[dave99]

5. "And more and more, the Saudis see the U.S. government as unreliable ... " shitstain fucks over "friends"

its M.O.

[usonian]

7. An embassy visit will smooth this all over.

[SamuelAdams]

8. I can't imagine why anyone would see the current administration as unreliable.

[BaronChocula]

9. Sleeping Cootie's balls are in MBS's hands

That's why we haven't heard anything about this. When Yahu bucked this regime, Sleeping Cootie went around calling him names and confirmed his outrage. He hasn't said a word about the Saudi butcher.

[rpannier]

10. More and more they see... as unreliable and even on occasion a risk to Gulf Arab nations

He's unreliable and a risk to more than the Gulf Arab nations
But, whatever drags them closer to reality