U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official state arrival ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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
U.S. President Donald Trump poses for a family picture with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and other attendees during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 19, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
That being said, they believe an "off ramp could be reached by Iranians doing the right thing."
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"We want a prosperous country that supports their people, that’s what we think we should all be doing – Iran has real economic potential, energy, a lot of talent in Iran and especially abroad who live in other countries, challenges they face - there’s a way to get out of it and Iran could be a very constructive actor in the region and important actor in the region. I hope that they get there because the Iranian people deserve a lot."
Overall, the official said that though the U.S. has not shared its objectives or plans, they said, "I hope that outcome is for a more stable Middle East, more prosperous."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/saudis-wont-let-us-use-its-bases-airspace-attack-iran-says-senior-gulf-official