Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is urging U.S. President Donald Trump to continue and even escalate the war against Iran, the New York Times reported.

According to the report, in a series of conversations over the past week, Bin Salman conveyed a clear message that the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation represents a “historic opportunity” to reshape the Middle East by toppling the regime in Tehran.

Bin Salman emphasized to Trump that Iran poses a long-term strategic threat to Gulf states, and that the only way to eliminate that threat is by removing the current regime. He is pressing Trump to deploy US troops in Iran to seize key energy infrastructure and accelerate regime change.

According to analysts, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states fear that if the US pulls out without bringing down the regime, they will be vulnerable to frequent attacks by an emboldened Iran and would be forced to deal with it alone. In addition, Iran would likely continue creating disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

When Trump raised concerns about the economic consequences of continuing the war, particularly a surge in oil prices and damage to the global economy, bin Salman sought to reassure him, arguing that such effects would be temporary and would give way to long-term regional stability following regime change.

Senior officials in both Saudi Arabia and the United States are concerned that if the conflict continues, Iran could carry out even more severe attacks on Saudi oil facilities, and that the United States could become entangled in an endless war.

The war’s impact on Saudi Arabia’s economy and national security is already significant. Iranian missile and drone strikes, launched in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, have already caused major disruptions in the oil market.

“Saudi officials certainly want the war to end, but how it ends matters,” said Yasmine Farouk, director of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project for the International Crisis Group.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)