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Israeli, Saudi Officials Hold High-Level Iran Talks in Washington Amid US Military Buildup In Middle East

By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON - Senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia are in Washington this week for discussions focused on Iran, sources say, reflecting heightened coordination with the United States amid a significant American military buildup in the Middle East.

According to reports, Gen. Shlomi Binder, head of Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, conducted high-level consultations on Tuesday and Wednesday with senior officials at the Pentagon, CIA and White House, delivering intelligence that the U.S. administration requested on possible Iran-related targets.

Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has held meetings with top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to review strategic ties and explore enhanced cooperation aimed at regional and global peace and stability, Saudi officials said.

The diplomatic engagement comes as the United States has deployed a major military presence, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran. While neither the U.S. nor the visiting officials have publicly detailed the discussions, the talks are seen as part of efforts to align strategy and assess options in response to Tehran’s activities, as well as to consider diplomatic avenues that might avert broader conflict.

Saudi Arabia has also communicated that it will not permit its airspace to be used for military attacks against Iran, even as Washington weighs responses to Iranian actions and pressures Tehran toward negotiation.