Saudi, Israeli leaders try to shape Trump's decisions on Iran conflict

Core Impact Points

• Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss the Iran war, conveying the Kingdom's assessment that Iran is trying to find leverage through escalation.
• The US and Saudi Arabia carried out strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 people, including some Iranian military advisers.
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu counseled President Trump on three options for the war: a deal focused on removing nuclear material, a blockade with added economic pressure, and military strikes targeting land routes.
• Netanyahu believes that regime change in Iran is the only real change that will result from the war, but US intelligence does not assess that renewed strikes would dislodge the regime in Tehran.
• The United Arab Emirates also carried out airstrikes in Iran this spring, but has not publicly advertised it, and Gulf allies who house US troops have fended off near-daily incoming drones and missiles.
• The war has significant implications for the global economy, particularly in the oil market, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil trade.