Saudi Arabia offers to mediate between Trump and Iran for new nuclear deal

Saudi Arabia has expressed its willingness to mediate between the Trump administration and Iran to reach a new agreement aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear program.

The kingdom is concerned that, with its regional proxies - long seen as a deterrent against Israeli attacks - now significantly weakened, Iran may be more inclined to pursue nuclear weapon development, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Saudi Arabia hopes to use its close ties with President Donald Trump as a diplomatic bridge, facilitating communication between the White House and Iran.

While it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia has made a formal offer, the potential mediation signals Riyadh’s desire to build on its improving relations with its former adversary and secure a seat at the negotiating table for any new deal.

Though President Trump has expressed interest in negotiating a new deal, Iran’s stance remains ambiguous. Last week, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the idea of talks with the United States, calling them “not smart.”

Saudi Arabia had publicly supported the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers but privately harboured resentment over the Obama administration’s failure to address concerns regarding Iran’s regional activities, especially its missile program and proxy groups in Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon — elements Saudi Arabia saw as a direct threat to regional stability. Saudi Arabia later backed Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal.

In the year following the withdrawal, Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities were attacked by drones and missiles, temporarily halving the production of the world’s largest oil exporter. The Iran-backed Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack, though the US attributed it to Iran, stopping short of military retaliation in defence of its Saudi ally.

However, relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have improved since then. In March 2023, the two countries made a surprise announcement to normalize diplomatic ties under a China-brokered agreement. Saudi officials have hailed the deal as a success, noting that Houthi attacks on Saudi territory have ceased, and Riyadh was spared from involvement in last year’s escalating conflict between Israel and Iran — despite concerns that Tehran might retaliate by targeting Gulf oil installations if its facilities were attacked by Israel.

In recent months, Israel has made significant strides in weakening Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. This, combined with the weakening of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, has undermined Iran’s ability to exert power across the region.

Saudi officials now view the shifting dynamics as a historic opportunity to de-escalate tensions with Iran, reaffirming that Riyadh has no interest in participating in any US or Israeli confrontation with Tehran.

Riyadh’s growing concern is that a cornered Iran might become more inclined to develop a nuclear weapon. Saudi Arabia sees a new nuclear agreement as a key measure to prevent this outcome. While it recognizes that Iran’s weakness does not align with Saudi Arabia’s interests, Riyadh has recalibrated its foreign policy to prioritize economic growth and regional stability—believing further instability could hinder progress.

By Tamilla Hasanova