MBS Warns Trump: De-escalate in Middle East or Risk Economic Chaos
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid further military escalation against Iran, reflecting the fragile regional order and Riyadh's stake in de-escalation.
This is not MBS's first intervention. In January 2026, he privately cautioned Trump against striking Iran, which reportedly contributed to a delay in US military action. When those strikes did come in February 2026, the region had already been primed for weeks of anxious repositioning.
The Strait of Hormuz is at the center of this equation, with one-fifth of the world's oil supply moving through it. Any serious military confrontation between the US and Iran would put that flow at immediate risk.
In June 2026, Iran began accepting Bitcoin as payment for Strait of Hormuz transit fees, adding a layer to the conflict's dynamics. If sanctioned nations begin routing real economic activity through Bitcoin, that introduces a structural demand floor that has nothing to do with retail sentiment or ETF inflows.