Saudi Arabia has urged the United States to reconsider its tightening stance on Iran, warning that the current approach could escalate regional tensions and threaten critical global shipping routes, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing Arab officials.

Riyadh is reportedly concerned that pressure on Iran could backfire, triggering retaliatory moves that may destabilize maritime traffic across the Middle East, particularly in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital gateway linking the Red Sea to global trade routes.

The Saudi warning comes amid fears that any escalation involving Iran could spill over into multiple chokepoints, disrupting oil exports and commercial shipping that are already under strain from ongoing regional instability.

According to the report, Gulf officials believe Iran could respond indirectly through allied groups in the region, raising the risk of disruptions to alternative export routes that Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on.

A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, reiterated that the administration’s priority remains keeping global energy routes open, including the Strait of Hormuz.