Saudi Arabia welcomes Trump's move to "give diplomacy a chance" to end Iran war
Riyadh, May 20
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday welcomed US President Donald Trump's decision to "give diplomacy a chance" to achieve an end to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, while also appreciating Pakistan's mediation efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions.
In a post on X, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the Kingdom highly appreciated efforts to restore regional stability and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz prior to its state before the conflict started on February 28.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia highly appreciates US President Donald Trump's decision to give diplomacy a chance to reach an acceptable agreement to end the war, restore the security and freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to its state prior to February 28th, 2026; and address all points of contention in a way that serves the security and stability of the region," the statement read.
"Saudi Arabia also highly appreciates the ongoing mediation efforts carried out by Pakistan in this regard," it added.
The statement further urged Iran to respond positively to diplomatic efforts and avoid further escalation in the region.
"Saudi Arabia looks forward to Iran seizing the opportunity to avoid the dangerous implications of escalation and urgently responding to the efforts to advance the negotiations leading up to a comprehensive agreement to achieve lasting peace in the region and the world," the statement added.
Prior to this, Trump stated that he was not in a hurry to open the strategic waterway, noting that Washington is going to give "one shot" in order to open the Strait.
"We have to open the Strait of Hormuz. We are going to give it one shot. We are not in a hurry," he said.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Iran wanted to make a deal "so badly" and asserted that the ongoing conflict would end "very quickly".
"There's so much oil out there, they're going to come plummeting down...We're going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly...You are going to see oil prices plummet. They're going to come down. There's so much oil out there; they're going to come plummeting down," he said.
The development follows the ongoing negotiations related to a peace deal between the US and Iran, following Trump's earlier announcement to put a "planned attack" on Tehran on hold after appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The US President further mentioned that they are "prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault" on Iran.
In a long Truth Social post on Monday, Trump stated that Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan requested him to delay the scheduled American attack on Iran, as "serious negotiations" were still underway with the country.
He stressed that the US had "planned" military action against Iran on Tuesday; however, it was delayed after the intervention of Gulf leaders in the hope of a peace deal with Tehran.
"I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond," the post read.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see Pakistan playing mediator role here despite our differences. Regional stability is in everyone's interest. But I'm skeptical about Trump's "one shot" comment - seems like he's keeping military option open. India should also use its diplomatic channels with both US and Iran to ensure our energy security isn't compromised.
This is classic Trump - saying he'll "give diplomacy one shot" while also claiming he could launch a "full-scale assault." It's like watching a drama serial! But seriously, India must stay alert. Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz hits our economy hard. Let's hope these talks actually mean something and don't just delay the inevitable.
From a Western perspective, it's refreshing to see diplomatic efforts gaining traction. But can we really trust Iran after years of tensions? The fact that Gulf nations like Saudi and UAE are pushing for talks is significant - they're on the front lines. Hope this leads to a comprehensive deal that addresses nuclear concerns and regional stability.
As an Indian, I'm cautiously optimistic. We've seen how quickly things can escalate in Middle East. Glad to see Saudi Arabia and UAE using their influence for peace rather than war. But Trump's statement about oil prices plummeting - that's pure politics! He's trying to manage domestic economy while posturing internationally. Let's see if actual diplomacy yields results or if it's just another round of drama. 🤔
Diplomacy is always better than war, but let's be honest - this feels like Trump saving face after backing down from a planned attack. The Gulf countries played their cards right by asking him to delay. However, Iran needs to show genuine
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