Saudi spokesperson refutes Washington Post report on lobbying Trump

Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said the Kingdom has consistently supported diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a credible agreement with Tehran. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 March 2026
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Saudi spokesperson refutes Washington Post report on lobbying Trump

  • Newspaper claimed US president launched strikes on Iran after weeks-long lobbying effort by Israel and Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: A spokesperson for the Saudi government has denied claims that it lobbied US President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran, calling recent reports suggesting otherwise false.

Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said the Kingdom has consistently supported diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a credible agreement with Tehran.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been consistent in supporting diplomatic efforts to reach a credible deal with Iran,” Nazer said in a statement posted on X.

“At no point in all our communication with the Trump Administration did we lobby the President to adopt a different policy.”

His remarks came in response to a report by The Washington Post, which cited four people familiar with the matter as saying President Trump launched strikes on Iran after a weeks-long lobbying effort by Israel and Saudi Arabia.


Saudi and New Zealand foreign ministers discussed Mideast situation

Updated 10 March 2026
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Saudi and New Zealand foreign ministers discussed Mideast situation

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the current situation in the Middle East with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Peters expressed New Zealand’s condemnation of Iran’s indiscriminate attacks on the Kingdom and thanked Riyadh for its efforts to protect foreign nationals, including New Zealanders inside the Kingdom.
The Saudi military has shot down numerous missiles and drones fired by Tehran toward the Kingdom since the US and Israel began a large-scale military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said early Tuesday that it had shot down a ballistic missile in the Eastern Province after knocking out several drones targeting the Shaybah oil field in the Empty quarter on Friday evening.