Senator Chris Murphy meets Saudi Crown Prince to discuss Iran war and Palestinian state

Senator Chris Murphy arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, first visiting Qatar for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and shuttle-diplomacy coordinator Ali Al Thawadi. On Monday he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasizing that Saudi cooperation is crucial for a permanent end to the war with Iran and for establishing a Palestinian state. While noting his longstanding criticism of Saudi investments tied to President Donald Trump, Murphy argued that political dialogue must continue in Riyadh.

He said the discussion did not produce concrete conclusions but highlighted the importance of Saudi input beyond the Trump administration’s perspective. The senator did not raise the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite his earlier calls for Saudi accountability. Murphy’s trip aims to assess war damage, engage regional allies, and explore avenues to reduce the conflict’s broader impact.