Saudi Arabia behind strikes on Iran: Reuters, Washington Post reports

Israel and the United States launched strikes on various locations in Iran from Saturday morning. The joint strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other top leaders and commanders. Amid this situation, influential US media outlet The Washington Post and news agency Reuters have published explosive reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia was behind the strikes on Iran.

According to the reports, the strikes on Iran were initiated following continuous pressure from Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Reuters reported that Saudi Crown Prince publicly supported diplomacy to avoid strikes on Iran and stated that Saudi territory would not be used for any attack on Tehran. However, when speaking with US President Donald Trump, the Crown Prince conveyed a different message. He warned Trump that if the United States did not take action against Iran, the consequences would be severe.

The Washington Post, in its report, described Saudi Arabia and Israel as an "unusual US ally pair in the Middle East" for their shared position on striking Tehran. The report said the joint efforts of the two countries encouraged Trump to launch operations to oust Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei from power.

The report further stated that Trump launched strikes on Iran under pressure from Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Crown Prince spoke with Trump multiple times about launching strikes on Iran, despite publicly saying otherwise. Prince Salman had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Saudi Arabia would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for any attack on Tehran. However, he told US officials that if Washington did not use significant military force in the Middle East, Iran would become stronger and more dangerous.

During a visit to the United States in January, the Crown Prince's brother Khalid bin Salman conveyed the same message to US officials in private meetings, the report said. Close associates of Prince Salman told Reuters that he views Iran as the main regional rival.

Notably, Donald Trump has recently declared that strikes will continue until there is a change of government in Iran.