Senior Israeli and Saudi officials took part in a round of talks in Washington focused on Iran, as President Donald Trump weighs a potential military strike against the Islamic Republic, two senior American officials and two additional sources told Axios. The meetings were aimed at coordinating positions and preparing for a range of possible scenarios.
In recent days, President Trump ordered a significant buildup of US forces in the Persian Gulf, a move intended to lay the groundwork for possible military action. Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region have been on high alert for several days, amid expectations of a US strike that could reshape the Middle East.
As part of the talks, an Israeli delegation led by Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, head of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, arrived in Washington. Binder held meetings over two consecutive days with senior officials at the Pentagon, the Central Intelligence Agency and the White House. According to a source familiar with the matter, Binder came to Washington to provide the Trump administration with intelligence details on potential targets inside Iran. Israeli intelligence, gathered over years of monitoring Iran's nuclear program and the regime's military capabilities, is considered critical for any US planning for a strike.
At the same time, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the younger brother and close confidant of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was also expected to arrive in Washington. Prince Khalid is scheduled to hold Iran-focused meetings at the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House, including talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Saudi delegation has arrived with deep concerns about the prospect of a broad regional war. Saudi Arabia, which lies within range of Iranian missiles, is investing major efforts in promoting a diplomatic solution to prevent military escalation. In recent days, Saudi officials have passed messages between Washington and Tehran in an attempt to reduce tensions, though so far without tangible success.
