Saudi crown prince tells Trump dialogue needed to avert wider regional conflict

Saudi ‌Crown Prince ​Mohammed  Bin ‌Salman stressed in ‌a phone ‌call with ⁠US President Donald Trump the "necessity of ​prioritising dialogue ‌to de-escalate tensions" ⁠in the Middle East, the kingdom's official SPA press agency reported on Sunday.

"His Royal Highness emphasised the necessity of prioritising dialogue to reduce tensions and the importance of exerting all possible efforts to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic solutions," SPA reported after Trump said he had decided to hold off on renewed attacks on Iran after requests from Gulf countries.

Trump said late on Saturday the US would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be ​reached quickly to halt ⁠Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked for time to complete a deal ‌that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening ‌of the vital strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He did not name the countries in the post. "Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a ‌successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump wrote. Israel "joins me in this commitment," he said. Israel did not immediately respond ⁠on Sunday to a request for comment on the US president's posts.

Agencies