What began as preparation for announcing an American withdrawal from the Iranian arena ended in surprise.
President Donald Trump intended to announce a full ceasefire and an end to the fighting against Iran, in exchange for the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, a charged phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman changed the plan at the last minute.
According to White House sources, bin Salman begged Trump not to stop the operation: "This is a historic opportunity - we must complete the job and weaken the Iranian regime to the end." In exchange for continuing the fighting, Saudi Arabia offered an unprecedented package of economic and strategic incentives.
Among the most notable items:
