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A top Iranian official has called on Saudi Arabia to expel US forces from its territory.

Getting into it: In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Riyadh to reconsider its security ties with the US, writing that “Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation.” He added that US forces “have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security,” and said it was “high time to eject US forces.”

Araghchi’s remarks came just days after Iranian strikes targeted a Saudi air base hosting US personnel and military assets. In the same message, he pointed to the attack as evidence of Iran’s capabilities, stating, “Just look at what we did to their aerial command,” while sharing an image showing damage to a US aircraft. He maintained that Iran’s operations are directed at “enemy aggressors,” attempting to draw a distinction between Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the American forces stationed within them.

This all comes as multiple Western news outlets citing US, Gulf, and Israeli officials report that some Arab states are privately pushing Trump to ramp up military pressure on Iran, with some even open to the idea of US ground involvement. According to those reports, the United Arab Emirates is being described as one of the most aggressive voices advocating for escalation, including the possibility of expanded operations that could involve US troops on the ground, while Kuwait and Bahrain are also reported to be backing a similar approach.

Saudi Arabia is also said to support maintaining pressure on Iran, though with a more measured stance, warning that ending the war too early would not lead to meaningful long-term security for the region. Saudi officials have reportedly stressed that any resolution must significantly weaken Iran’s military capabilities and curb its regional influence.

Not all Gulf countries are aligned on escalation, however. Oman and Qatar are instead pushing for diplomacy and de-escalation rather than further military action.