Saudi Crown Prince MBS urges Trump to ‘prioritise dialogue’ in US-Iran war

Core Impact Points

• Saudi Crown Prince MBS spoke to Trump by phone, urging a renewed push for dialogue to reduce escalation and achieve calm.
• Trump announced he would hold off on new strikes against Iran, citing the outline of a deal to end five months of war.
• The deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran's 'nuclear threat', with Israel joining the US in this commitment.
• Iranian state media dismissed Trump's claim that Tehran had sought a pause as 'nothing but a new lie', insisting Iranian forces remained on high alert.
• The US and Israel launched strikes aimed at destroying Iran's missile programme, preventing a nuclear weapon, and cutting off support for allied armed groups.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US strikes had destroyed much of Iran's navy, air force, and missile defences, leaving it without a 'conventional shield'.