Saudi Arabia has expressed its willingness to mediate between the Trump administration and Iran in pursuit of a new agreement to limit Tehran’s nuclear program, CNN has learned. The move comes amid concerns in Riyadh that Iran may now be more inclined to develop nuclear weapons following the weakening of its regional proxies, which were previously seen as deterrents against Israeli aggression.
The kingdom hopes to leverage its strong relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump to facilitate diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran. However, neither the U.S. State Department nor the Saudi foreign ministry responded to CNN’s requests for comment, and Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment as well.
Saudi Arabia has had a complex stance on Iran’s nuclear program. While it publicly welcomed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, Riyadh was privately frustrated with the Obama administration for not addressing Tehran’s missile program and regional activities. Saudi officials supported Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the agreement, viewing it as a necessary step to counter Iranian influence.
Tensions between the two regional powers escalated after a 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, which cut the world’s largest oil exporter’s crude production in half. While Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group claimed responsibility, the U.S. blamed Iran, though it refrained from taking military action to defend Saudi Arabia.
Despite past hostilities, Saudi-Iranian relations have improved significantly in recent years. In March 2023, the two nations announced a China-brokered agreement to normalize ties. Saudi officials regard this diplomatic breakthrough as a success, as it has resulted in the cessation of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and the kingdom’s exclusion from the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
Over the last 15 months, Iran’s regional influence has weakened due to Israeli military actions against its allied groups in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. These developments, coupled with the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria, have diminished Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.
While it remains uncertain whether Saudi Arabia has formally offered to mediate, its willingness to engage underscores Riyadh’s intent to capitalize on improved relations with Tehran and secure a role in any potential negotiations. Trump has signaled his interest in renegotiating a nuclear deal, but Iran’s response has been mixed. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently stated that engaging in talks with the United States would not be a “smart” move.