Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has reportedly been urging former President Donald Trump to deploy ground forces in Iran, viewing the conflict as an opportunity to initiate a regime change. Sources told the New York Times that MBS has made multiple calls to Trump over the past week, advocating for continued military action against Iran and warning against leaving the mission incomplete. This push comes amid Trump’s recent announcement of a temporary five-day pause on U.S. strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, as back-channel discussions with Tehran are being explored, potentially indicating Trump’s interest in de-escalating the situation.

According to officials, MBS argued that the Iranian government represents a long-standing threat to regional stability and must be fully dismantled. He urged Trump to deploy troops to seize Iran’s energy resources and oust its government. However, Trump raised concerns over the impact of further escalation on oil prices, which have already surged, with the national average reaching $4.00 per gallon—up from $2.90 at the war’s onset on February 28. While MBS’s private conversations suggest a hardline stance, Saudi Arabia’s public declarations continue to emphasize a preference for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, which has resulted in retaliatory attacks on its energy infrastructure, severely affecting its oil exports.

A Saudi spokesman reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to a peaceful resolution, stating, “Saudi Arabia has consistently supported a peaceful solution to this conflict.” The spokesman emphasized ongoing communication with the Trump administration, affirming, “Our primary concern is to defend against the daily attacks on our people and infrastructure.” He accused Iran of choosing “dangerous brinkmanship over serious diplomatic solutions,” stating that this not only harms all parties involved but also Iran itself. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment on the matter.

Senior Saudi and American officials fear Iran could further punish Riyadh’s oil facilities with strikes and drag the US into ‘an endless war’ if the fighting continues, according to the Times. While the kingdom maintains a stockpile of Patriot missile interceptors to defend against Iranian drone and missile strikes, several bombardments have seeped through the Saudi air defenses. Saudi oil fields, refineries and cities have all been hit with Iranian weapons. So too has the US embassy in Riyadh, prompting the US to evacuate the mission. But Trump signaled on Monday that the war could be nearing a conclusion, noting that negotiations had begun with Iran, including ‘productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities.’ Iran denied that talks were taking place.

An Iranian official told Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, there is ‘no direct or indirect contact with Trump.’ If those talks go sideways and Iran doesn’t cooperate, Trump said US forces will keep ‘bombing our little hearts out.’ Thousands of US Marines have been deployed to the Middle East in recent weeks, with at least two units totaling over 4,500 personnel ordered to head towards Iran. Around 2,500 Marines aboard three ships were deployed to the Middle East late last week, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

A week earlier, the USS Tripoli, carrying over 2,000 Marines, was ordered to leave the Pacific and head to the region. Senior military officials are also considering a possible deployment of a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to support military inside in Iran. That would provide the military with 3,000 soldiers for a possible invasion of Kharg Island – where 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports are processed. Oil prices rose on Tuesday, with Brent crude – the global benchmark – hitting $104 per barrel as optimism about an early resolution to the conflict faded.