Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, privately told senior U.S. officials that refraining from military action against Iran after repeated threats would embolden Tehran’s leadership, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions in Washington.

The comments came during a series of meetings this week as the U.S. has bolstered its military posture in the Middle East amid unresolved tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities.

Bin Salman’s remarks, reported by sources present in the briefings, represent a notable contrast to the kingdom’s earlier public messaging, which had emphasised restraint and cautioned against escalation, including warnings from Saudi leadership that a strike on Iran could trigger wider regional conflict.

In private sessions with White House officials and think tank experts, the Saudi defence minister argued that failure to act after sustained threats might leave Iran’s regime comparatively stronger, even while acknowledging the risks of a broader confrontation.

Publicly, however, Saudi Arabia has maintained a position of caution, with Riyadh telling Tehran it would not permit its airspace or territory to be used for an attack and urging all parties to engage in diplomacy to avoid destabilisation.

The U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, has not made any definitive decision on military strikes and continues to explore a combination of pressure and diplomacy with Tehran, including significant deployments of U.S. forces in the region.

The evolution of Saudi messaging underscores internal debates among American allies about how best to manage Iran’s nuclear ambitions and assertive regional behaviour, even as Arab states publicly call for restraint and stability to protect their own interests and avert a wider conflict.