Saudi Arabia Reaffirms De-escalation With Iran After Joint US Strikes in Iraq
Saudi Defense Minister stressed support for de-escalation with Iran in White House meeting with VP Vance, despite recent joint strikes on militias in Iraq, Axios reports.
Saudi Arabia's defense minister met with Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Wednesday, news outlet Axios reported, citing a person familiar with the talks. The meeting followed a joint US-Saudi operation that targeted Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
Despite the military action, the Saudi side made clear that Riyadh remains committed to reducing tensions with Tehran. The source said the minister stressed the kingdom's continued support for de-escalation with Iran, even as the two allies conducted the first known coordinated kinetic strike in years.
The rare joint operation underscores deep security cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. However, the diplomatic signal indicates Saudi leadership wants to balance a hard-power approach with broader efforts to avoid a spiral of confrontation in the region.
Source: First Squawk