Saudi Crown Prince, Trump Discuss De-escalation Amid Regional Tensions
RIYADH- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone on Sunday, focusing on efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East, as diplomatic activity intensified amid the ongoing regional conflict.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the need to prioritize dialogue and pursue all possible efforts to secure a truce that could pave the way for diplomatic solutions.
The crown prince said de-escalation was essential to prevent the conflict from expanding and to safeguard regional and international security.
The call came after Trump announced he had decided to suspend planned U.S. military strikes against Iran, saying regional partners had reached the parameters of an agreement aimed at ending the five-month conflict.
In a post on social media, Trump said the proposed arrangement would include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he described as Iran’s nuclear threat. He said he had agreed to cancel the planned attacks, subject to the rapid conclusion of a deal, adding that Israel supported the commitment.
Iran rejected Trump’s account. The state-run Mehr news agency, citing military officials, denied that Tehran had requested the United States to refrain from further strikes, calling the claim false and saying Iran’s armed forces remained on high alert.
Trump’s announcement marked another shift in the conflict after he had indicated a day earlier that Washington was close to resuming large-scale military action against Iran to increase pressure for negotiations.
The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. Trump has said the campaign was intended to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon and end its support for allied armed groups.
The conflict has continued to affect maritime security in the Gulf. According to the report, Iran has repeatedly targeted vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without its authorization during the conflict.
Elsewhere in the region, U.S. embassies across the Middle East on Saturday advised American citizens to remain alert to the possibility of further escalation and to be prepared to depart if necessary.
Fighting between Iran and the United States resumed last month after a brief lull, although no new strikes were reported between Friday and Sunday.
On Wednesday, a drone struck a U.S.-owned gas vessel at Egypt’s Damietta port, causing a fire. Egyptian authorities are investigating the incident but have not attributed responsibility.
Separately, a British maritime agency reported that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker off the coast of Oman on Saturday.
Maritime intelligence firm Kpler said traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply as the conflict has disrupted commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
