Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Meet to Tackle Iran, Gaza War, and Oil Prices

Riyadh, May 13:U.S. President Donald Trump commenced his four-day Middle East tour on Tuesday with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The leaders discussed a range of pressing geopolitical issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Gaza conflict, and global oil prices.

Trump was received with full ceremonial honors as he landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, with a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 escort saluting Air Force One. Crown Prince Mohammed personally greeted the President, marking the beginning of Trump's return to Middle Eastern diplomacy in his second term.

The leaders held talks in a grand reception hall at the airport, where Trump and his delegation were served traditional Arabic coffee. Later, a luncheon at the Royal Court brought together top U.S. and Saudi officials, as well as prominent business figures, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Musk, who is also leading the controversial U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, was reportedly present to discuss private-sector partnerships.

Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ allies have increased oil production to align with Trump’s push for lower global energy prices. Trump has argued that affordable oil is essential for taming inflation and weakening Russia’s financial footing in the Ukraine war. However, experts note the tension between market pressures and Saudi Arabia’s need for oil prices around $96 per barrel to balance its national budget.

“Lower oil prices challenge Gulf states' economic diversification goals, even if they don’t derail them entirely,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The President’s itinerary includes visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), nations where the Trump Organization is expanding its real estate footprint with projects in Jeddah, Dubai, and Doha.

Trump is expected to unveil investment and defense agreements during the trip, potentially involving arms sales and cooperation on artificial intelligence and energy. Notably, the administration recently approved a $3.5 billion sale of air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia.

Trump’s absence from Israel on this trip has raised eyebrows, particularly amid his administration’s decision to end U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels without notifying Israeli authorities.

“Skipping Israel is significant,” said William Wechsler of the Atlantic Council. “It sends a message that Gulf governments may currently hold more sway with the Trump administration than Israel does.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded with frustration, stating, “Israel will defend itself by itself. If our American friends join us, all the better.”

Although Trump aims to revive his Abraham Accords initiative to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations, progress with Saudi Arabia appears unlikely without U.S. concessions. Riyadh has reiterated that any normalization must include a U.S. security pact, support for its civilian nuclear program, and concrete steps toward a Palestinian state.

In a symbolic move, Crown Prince Mohammed recently hosted Palestinian Vice President Hussein Sheikh in Jeddah, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to the Palestinian cause.

Middle East analyst Hussain Abdul-Hussain remarked, “The Saudis are clearly signaling that there will be no goodwill toward normalization unless there is visible progress on Palestinian statehood.”

As President Trump continues his regional tour, the world watches to see whether his transactional diplomacy can secure lasting partnerships—or whether familiar Middle East complexities will temper his ambitions.