A Senate Democrat pushing for an end to the war in Iran and the creation of a Palestinian state met with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince during a trip to the Middle East.Sen.Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in a post on X revealed that he had met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, on Monday.Murphy, who arrived in the region on Saturday for meetings in Qatar, acknowledged that he’s taken issue with the Saudi leader’s policies, but that it was "important for us to be here to recognize that there are things that we need to work on together — the end of the war with Iran, a pathway to a Palestinian state."TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS SWEEPING TERMS OF PROPOSED IRAN AGREEMENTSen.
Chris Murphy, D-Conn., talks with reporters during votes in the U.S.Capitol on Sept.
30, 2026.(CQ-Roll Call, Inc.
via Getty Images)He noted that he’s been in disagreement with the Saudis, particularly over the Gulf country’s several investments in President Donald Trump’s family businesses, but that "there's got to be space for political dialogue and speech here in Saudi Arabia.""We talked about those things.I'm not saying we came to conclusions, but I think it's important for the crown prince to not just hear from the Trump administration, but to hear from people who want a different path for Saudi Arabia in the region and in the world," Murphy said."But those points of alignment are important as well," he continued.
"We are not going to get a permanent end to this war without the Saudis' help.We're not going to get a Palestinian state without the Saudis’ help."4 GOP SENATORS REBEL AGAINST TRUMP ON IRAN WAR, VOTE WITH DEMS TO REIN IN AUTHORITYMurphy notably did not mention Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who was murdered and dismembered by Saudi operatives at a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey in 2018.Years ago, Murphy was demanding accountability from the Saudi Arabian government over Khashoggi’s slaying."And I think what we have to remember...