Saudi Arabia’s defense minister held an urgent meeting with Vance after the attacks in Iraq.

- Axios reporter Barak Ravid

On Wednesday at the White House, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, told the U.S. vice president, J.D. Vance, that despite the joint U.S. and Saudi attacks on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Riyadh still favors reducing tensions with Iran; a source familiar with the meeting told Axios.

Why it matters: The source said the purpose of the meeting was to deliver a message from Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Saudi crown prince, about the war with Iran and the situation in the region.

Saudi Arabia is one of the United States’ key allies in the region. Despite tensions at various points over the past five months, the Saudis have repeatedly been able to influence President Trump’s policy toward Iran.

Prince Khalid, the brother of and one of the closest trusted figures of Mohammed bin Salman, was expected to travel to Washington last week, but he delayed his trip due to the attacks in Iraq.

Main story: On Tuesday, the Saudi Armed Forces and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out joint strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

CENTCOM said the strikes were in response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and carried out by the militias against targets in Saudi Arabia during the previous 72 hours.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense later confirmed its participation in the attacks and said the operation was coordinated with CENTCOM.

Inside the meeting: A source familiar with the meeting said the Saudi defense minister told Vance that the Iran-backed Iraqi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and energy facilities had crossed a “red line,” and the Kingdom had been compelled to respond.

The source said: “The crown prince wanted to convey to Vance that the attacks in Iraq do not mean that Saudi Arabia favors escalation of tensions; rather, it shows that if necessary, it is prepared to defend itself.”

The Saudi defense minister went to the White House to meet with Trump a day after meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister. An Israeli official said Netanyahu discussed Saudi Arabia’s situation with Trump “within the framework of regional challenges.”

A source familiar with Khalid bin Salman’s meeting said: “Prince Khalid told Vance that Netanyahu wants to escalate tensions with Iran, while Saudi Arabia wants to reduce tensions, because this path is more productive.”

The U.S. vice president’s office declined to comment on the meeting.

Quick summary: Two weeks ago, Trump announced his support for an unusual military action against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen—an issue Axios had reported.

In response, the Houthis threatened Saudi Arabia with enforcing a naval blockade against the ports of the country and even carried out several attacks on Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

The source added that Saudi Arabia had to deliver a strong response in Iraq in order to send a message to Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and deter them from conducting similar attacks against the Kingdom.

On Wednesday, the Saudi defense minister also told Vance that Riyadh can manage the Houthis’ situation and that there is currently no need for U.S. involvement. According to the source, Saudi Arabia is also in talks with the Houthis.