Saudi Arabia Seeks Time Before Any US Strike on Iran

Saudi officials have asked their US counterparts for more time before President Donald Trump decides whether to strike Iran, two regional sources told the Post. Riyadh's concern is direct: an IRGC or Iranian military response could hit Saudi water and electricity systems, plus facilities tied to oil and energy.

The request follows a meeting in Tehran several days ago. Representatives of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which groups Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei. The Saudi delegation included Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud.

At those meetings, a regional source said, the Saudis asked Iran to avoid targeting key Saudi oil and gas facilities if hostilities resume. Iran declined to commit to that.

Iran has struck Saudi targets before. During Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury, the joint Israeli-American campaign against Iran in March, Tehran fired missiles and drones at targets in Saudi Arabia. Iran later reduced and then stopped those attacks after Riyadh warned Tehran it was "crossing a red line" and that Saudi Arabia would strike back if the attacks continued.

No date has been set for Trump's decision on military action. Saudi officials have asked senior Trump administration officials for "more time" to let diplomacy proceed.