Israeli and Saudi defence and intelligence officials are in Washington this week for talks on Iran as the US increases its military presence in the region, Axios reported.
Israel’s military intelligence chief, Gen. Shlomi Binder, held high-level meetings with the Pentagon, CIA, and White House to deliver intelligence requested by the Trump administration, including possible Iranian strike targets.
By contrast, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to stress diplomatic solutions in meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Defense Department officials. Riyadh, which has acted as a messenger between Washington and Tehran, has reiterated it will not allow its airspace to be used in any attack on Iran.
These talks coincide with the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, completing what President Donald Trump described as a naval force larger than a previous deployment toward Venezuela.
A US official said preparations are underway, signalilng Trump may be nearing a decision on possible military action. The developments unfold amid Iranian protests driven by economic hardship, while Washington warns Tehran to reach a nuclear deal or face consequences far worse than the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.
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