Dhaka, March 24 -- Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is reportedly lobbying US President Donald Trump to prolong the ongoing military offensive against Iran, describing the conflict as a "historic opportunity" to fundamentally alter the Middle Eastern landscape.

According to a report run on Tuesday by the New York Times, which cited unnamed sources briefed on high-level discussions between the two leaders, the Saudi prince has argued that the total dismantling of the Tehran government is the only way to eliminate the long-term security threats facing the Gulf.

Prince Mohammed is encouraging the White House to maintain its aggressive stance, the report said, adding that his rationale is rooted in the belie...