Saudi Defence Minister Warns Trump Holding Back On Bombing Iran Would 'Embolden Regime': Report

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 19:30 IST

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said President Trump holding back on military action against Iran would embolden the regime, according to a report.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meets Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman (KBS) in Tehran, Iran in this 2025 file photo. Salman told a private Washington briefing that Trump not acting against Iran after weeks of threats would embolden the regime. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has warned that President Donald Trump holding back on military action against Iran could end up strengthening the Iranian regime, according to a report by Axios.

The report said that during a private briefing in Washington on Friday, Prince Khalid, also known as KBS, argued that if the US president did not follow through on weeks of threats against Tehran, it would embolden the regime rather than deter it.

“At this point, if this doesn’t happen, it will only embolden the regime," the Saudi defence minister was quoted as saying at the closed-door meeting, which was attended by around 15 West Asia experts and representatives from five Jewish organisations.

Axios reported that Prince Khalid had earlier held a lengthy meeting at the White House on Thursday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Joint Chiefs of Staff chair General Dan Caine.

According to the report, discussions during that meeting focused primarily on the possibility of US military action against Iran, even as the White House has maintained that no final decision has been taken and that diplomatic options remain open.

Axios noted that Prince Khalid appeared “less restrained" during the Friday briefing compared to Saudi Arabia’s public messaging, which has so far emphasised de-escalation and respect for Iran’s sovereignty.

Only weeks earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had cautioned Trump against military action, citing the risk of wider regional escalation.

The report said Prince Khalid’s remarks reflected the same message he conveyed during his meetings with senior US officials. However, he also acknowledged that he left those discussions without a clear sense of the Trump administration’s strategy towards Iran.

Axios added that Washington’s plans remain uncertain, with no serious direct negotiations currently underway between the US and Iran. While Trump has ordered a significant military build-up in the Gulf, US officials have said Tehran does not appear interested in negotiations under Washington’s existing terms.

News world Saudi Defence Minister Warns Trump Holding Back On Bombing Iran Would 'Embolden Regime': Report

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