New Delhi, March 25 -- Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, now in the fourth week of a conflict triggered by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran last month, the role of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is once again under scrutiny, with several reports pointing to his growing influence on the evolving regional dynamics.

In a recent New York Times report, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is called, has urged US President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, calling it a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Middle East.

In recent conversations, the Saudi leader conveyed that Washington should press ahead toward dismantling Iran's hardline government, the report said, citing people briefed on the discussions...