New Delhi, March 1 -- US President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran came after Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, lobbied him repeatedly to make the move, the Washington Post has reported.

The decision followed weeks of lobbying by two key US allies in the Middle East-Israel and Saudi Arabia, the report said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued his longstanding push for US strikes against Iran, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple private calls to Trump over the past month advocating military action, despite publicly supporting diplomacy.

"Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple private phone calls to Trump over the past month advocating a US attack...