According to the publication, Trump made the decision to strike Iran on Saturday following weeks of active lobbying by the U.S.'s unconventional allies in the Middle East — Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed bin Salman held several private phone conversations with Trump over the past month, supporting U.S. military intervention.

The Washington Post writes that Trump made the decision despite assessments from the U.S. intelligence community.

Intelligence reports had noted that the likelihood of Iranian forces posing a direct threat to the U.S. mainland over the next decade was low.