Saudis won’t let the US use its bases or airspace for an attack on Iran, senior Gulf official reveals
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
As President Donald Trump weighs his options on a possible military strike on Iran, a senior Gulf official told Fox News that Saudi Arabia will not allow the U.S. to use its airspace or bases for such an attack.
A high-ranking government figure from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state told Fox News that the "U.S. hasn’t shared objectives or plans" regarding Iran with Gulf allies despite recent high-level Saudi meetings in Washington aimed at gaining clarity.
"We said this as friends, [we] want to make sure they understand our position and our assessment in general – and we want to understand the U.S. assessment with as much clarity as possible," the senior official said, adding, "I’d like to get full clarity, and we did not get there."
Regarding U.S. military movements for a strike on Iran, the official said, "The plan is something other than using Saudi airspace."
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ALREADY HAS US TERMS AS MILITARY STRIKE CLOCK TICKS
They said the U.S. is welcome in Saudi Arabia, especially regarding Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against ISIS. Yet, the Saudi position now is "consistent" with what it was during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in April 2024, the official said.
"Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used to target Israel, Houthis, Iran – the position is the same now. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used in a war Saudi Arabia is not a part of," the official said.
Trump said Friday that the United States has directly communicated expectations to Iran as pressure mounts for Tehran to accept a nuclear deal, even as Iranian officials publicly signal interest in talks.
Asked whether Iran faces a deadline to make a deal, Trump suggested the timeline had been conveyed privately.
"Only they know for sure," he said, confirming when pressed that the message had been delivered directly to Iranian leaders.
Trump also tied the growing U.S. naval presence in the region explicitly to Iran, saying American warships "have to float someplace" and "might as well float near Iran" as Washington weighs its next steps.
AS IRAN WEAKENS, QUESTIONS GROW OVER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
Despite the president’s words that Iran wants to make a deal, the official cautioned that "Iran always wants to make a deal, but the question is, what kind of deal? Is it acceptable to the U.S.?"
"We don’t see it coming together at this moment," the official said, while also noting that "everybody knows the U.S. is bringing capabilities to the region in general – to deal not with whatever the plan is, but whatever …
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
As President Donald Trump weighs his options on a possible military strike on Iran, a senior Gulf official told Fox News that Saudi Arabia will not allow the U.S. to use its airspace or bases for such an attack.
A high-ranking government figure from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state told Fox News that the "U.S. hasn’t shared objectives or plans" regarding Iran with Gulf allies despite recent high-level Saudi meetings in Washington aimed at gaining clarity.
"We said this as friends, [we] want to make sure they understand our position and our assessment in general – and we want to understand the U.S. assessment with as much clarity as possible," the senior official said, adding, "I’d like to get full clarity, and we did not get there."
Regarding U.S. military movements for a strike on Iran, the official said, "The plan is something other than using Saudi airspace."
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ALREADY HAS US TERMS AS MILITARY STRIKE CLOCK TICKS
They said the U.S. is welcome in Saudi Arabia, especially regarding Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against ISIS. Yet, the Saudi position now is "consistent" with what it was during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in April 2024, the official said.
"Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used to target Israel, Houthis, Iran – the position is the same now. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used in a war Saudi Arabia is not a part of," the official said.
Trump said Friday that the United States has directly communicated expectations to Iran as pressure mounts for Tehran to accept a nuclear deal, even as Iranian officials publicly signal interest in talks.
Asked whether Iran faces a deadline to make a deal, Trump suggested the timeline had been conveyed privately.
"Only they know for sure," he said, confirming when pressed that the message had been delivered directly to Iranian leaders.
Trump also tied the growing U.S. naval presence in the region explicitly to Iran, saying American warships "have to float someplace" and "might as well float near Iran" as Washington weighs its next steps.
AS IRAN WEAKENS, QUESTIONS GROW OVER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
Despite the president’s words that Iran wants to make a deal, the official cautioned that "Iran always wants to make a deal, but the question is, what kind of deal? Is it acceptable to the U.S.?"
"We don’t see it coming together at this moment," the official said, while also noting that "everybody knows the U.S. is bringing capabilities to the region in general – to deal not with whatever the plan is, but whatever …
Saudis won’t let the US use its bases or airspace for an attack on Iran, senior Gulf official reveals
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
As President Donald Trump weighs his options on a possible military strike on Iran, a senior Gulf official told Fox News that Saudi Arabia will not allow the U.S. to use its airspace or bases for such an attack.
A high-ranking government figure from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state told Fox News that the "U.S. hasn’t shared objectives or plans" regarding Iran with Gulf allies despite recent high-level Saudi meetings in Washington aimed at gaining clarity.
"We said this as friends, [we] want to make sure they understand our position and our assessment in general – and we want to understand the U.S. assessment with as much clarity as possible," the senior official said, adding, "I’d like to get full clarity, and we did not get there."
Regarding U.S. military movements for a strike on Iran, the official said, "The plan is something other than using Saudi airspace."
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ALREADY HAS US TERMS AS MILITARY STRIKE CLOCK TICKS
They said the U.S. is welcome in Saudi Arabia, especially regarding Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against ISIS. Yet, the Saudi position now is "consistent" with what it was during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in April 2024, the official said.
"Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used to target Israel, Houthis, Iran – the position is the same now. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used in a war Saudi Arabia is not a part of," the official said.
Trump said Friday that the United States has directly communicated expectations to Iran as pressure mounts for Tehran to accept a nuclear deal, even as Iranian officials publicly signal interest in talks.
Asked whether Iran faces a deadline to make a deal, Trump suggested the timeline had been conveyed privately.
"Only they know for sure," he said, confirming when pressed that the message had been delivered directly to Iranian leaders.
Trump also tied the growing U.S. naval presence in the region explicitly to Iran, saying American warships "have to float someplace" and "might as well float near Iran" as Washington weighs its next steps.
AS IRAN WEAKENS, QUESTIONS GROW OVER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
Despite the president’s words that Iran wants to make a deal, the official cautioned that "Iran always wants to make a deal, but the question is, what kind of deal? Is it acceptable to the U.S.?"
"We don’t see it coming together at this moment," the official said, while also noting that "everybody knows the U.S. is bringing capabilities to the region in general – to deal not with whatever the plan is, but whatever …
