Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple private phone calls to Donald Trump last month, urging him to launch military action against Iran, even as he publicly favoured diplomacy, according to a report by The Washington Post.

The report said the crown prince pressed for a strike despite earlier public statements in January in which he insisted Saudi Arabia would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for attacks on Iran. At the time, he called for dialogue between Washington and Tehran and said Riyadh respected Iran’s sovereignty.

The US and Israel went on to carry out joint strikes targeting Iranian military and government sites after nuclear talks stalled and amid claims that Tehran had resumed aspects of its nuclear programme. President Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue for as long as necessary.

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