Trump, MBS discuss Iran talks amid lingering rift over Hormuz operation

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Donald Trump held a phone call on Friday in which they discussed ongoing US-Iran negotiations, regional stability, and maritime navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Anadolu Agency and reports from Dawn. The call came against the backdrop of an unresolved rift between Washington and Riyadh over Saudi Arabia's earlier suspension of US military access to its bases and airspace.dawn+1

The Project Freedom Fallout

The phone call is the latest chapter in a fraught period for the US-Saudi relationship. In early May, Saudi Arabia suspended the US military's ability to use its bases and airspace after Trump announced "Project Freedom," an operation to escort more than 850 commercial vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, according to NBC News. Saudi officials were reportedly blindsided by the announcement.democracynow

The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↘ 0.64% reported that Saudi Arabia's opposition caused the operation to collapse within 36 hours of Trump's May 3 announcement, creating what the paper called the most serious rift in decades between the two allies. Kuwait also cut off access to its airspace, leaving the US without sufficient defensive coverage for ships transiting the strait.chosun+2

The New York Times reported that Trump reversed the Hormuz plan after the Saudis denied access to their airspace and US military installations within the kingdom. Although Saudi Arabia and Kuwait later lifted the restrictions on bases and overflights, according to Reuters, Riyadh did not agree to permit the use of its territory for the naval operation itself.nytimes+1

Diplomatic Reset

Friday's phone call appears to mark a continued effort at diplomatic repair. According to Arab News, Trump used the conversation to send a message to Tehran via the Saudi Crown Prince, listing three conditions for any resumption of talks with Iran. The US has demanded that Iran publicly guarantee the Strait of Hormuz remains open and cease attacks, according to AP.apnews+1

The broader context is shifting. The New York Times reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initially pressed Trump to take aggressive military action against Iran but later urged a ceasefire as Tehran asserted its power in the region. The relationship between Washington and Riyadh now hinges on whether the two sides can align on a path forward regarding Iran while managing the lingering tensions from the Project Freedom dispute.nytimes