The Wall Street Journal reports:

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday ruled out the use of its airspace and territory for a potential U.S. attack on Iran, complicating the Trump administration’s options in response to Tehran’s violent crackdown against Iranian protesters.

The Saudi move follows a similar statement Monday by the United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry.

The statements from the two Gulf states represent a foreign policy setback for the Trump administration as it seeks to ratchet up pressure on Tehran, which has defied Washington’s demand that it end uranium enrichment and end the suppression of protesters.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, outlined his country’s position while talking by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

A Saudi readout of the Tuesday call said that the crown prince had stressed that the kingdom “will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for any military actions against Iran.”

Saudi Arabia is worried about being drawn into a conflict with Iran, which attacked the kingdom’s oil facilities in 2019 during President Trump’s first term in office. [Continue reading…]