Saudi Arabia asks Trump to give diplomacy a chance on Iran

Senior Saudi officials have approached the Trump administration with a request that the US president "give diplomacy a chance" in a fresh effort to reach an agreement that would end the escalating confrontation with Iran, i24News reported Thursday evening.

According to the report, which cited two regional diplomats, Riyadh fears the possibility of renewed war between the United States and Iran, and specifically Iranian missile fire aimed at infrastructure targets and energy facilities inside Saudi Arabia. The appeal to Trump follows a visit to Tehran by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, who was accompanied by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. The three attempted to mediate between Washington and Tehran with the aim of brokering a deal with the United States.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night that US Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian exploring the possibility of resuming negotiations. American officials quoted in the report said the letter was sent on Trump's instructions and with his full knowledge, in order to test whether understandings could be reached that would prevent another round of fighting between the US and Iran.

Iran confirmed today that it had received Vance's letter, but said it had not yet responded. At the same time, Tehran made clear that "we emphasize the need for the United States to implement the seven conditions that Iran has set. Any position that could harm this framework is unacceptable."