Saudis feared Trump’s Project Freedom would spur Iran to attack, officials say

Saudi officials were angered by President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement that the U.S. would start guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, fearing the move could spur more Iranian attacks on Gulf allies.

Saudi officials were angered by President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement that the U.S. would start guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, fearing the move could spur more Iranian attacks on Gulf allies and reignite the conflict, two U.S. officials said.

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NBC News reported this week that Washington launched the operation without notifying key Gulf allies first.

In response, the Kingdom informed the U.S. it would not allow the U.S. military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort, the officials said. Trump paused the operation 36 hours after it was started, and the airspace was reopened.