Trump talks peace as Iran’s foes urge war; ‘obliterated’ Iran steps up reprisals

(Originally published March 25 in “What in the World“) It isn’t just Bibi whispering war into Trump’s ear.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s defacto ruler, has reportedly been urging Trump on in his war with Iran to makeover the Middle East, calling it a “historic opportunity,” The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources “briefed by American officials on the conversations.” MBS has even recommended deploying U.S. troops into the conflict, which may explain why the Pentagon is preparing to deploy 3,000 Airborne paratroopers to the region,.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched Israel’s military alongside the U.S in Iran and simultaneously against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia has been keeping its powder dry, even refusing to let U.S. forces launch attacks from bases in Saudi Arabia so as to avoid Iranian reprisals. But as Iran’s counterattacks against targets inside Saudi Arabia have mounted, Riyadh last week reportedly relented and allowed the U.S. to use an air base outside Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has also warned Iran that continued attacks could prompt it to launch its own counterattacks, thus joining the war alongside Israel and the U.S.

Israel’s military, meanwhile, wants several more weeks to achieve its aims in Iran, NPR reported, citing two unnamed Israeli military sources. And while Trump claims peace talks are underway, the Pentagon just ordered up $8.4 billion worth of additional anti-missile interceptors for U.S. Navy ships as Iran on Tuesday launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on targets in Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.