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The Saudi Foreign Ministry said Prince Faisal bin Farhan held the telephone conversation with Abbas Araghchi at the latter’s initiative. The two ministers reviewed the latest developments in the region along with steps being taken to address rising tensions. This marked the first publicly reported contact between them since Yemen’s Houthi forces stepped up strikes against Saudi targets earlier in the week.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the call followed a Houthi-claimed attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. Saudi authorities described the strike as the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade. The assault formed part of a series of operations that also targeted energy infrastructure and disrupted air traffic in the capital.
Abbas Araghchi stated via his Telegram channel that insisting on a military approach while disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation. The Iranian foreign minister added that Tehran stands ready to provide any assistance to facilitate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen toward a political resolution. Iranian officials stressed that no military solution exists for the current regional crises.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan separately spoke with the foreign ministers of Bahrain, the United Kingdom, Jordan and the European Union to coordinate responses to the attacks. Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani conveyed condolences for the casualties and reiterated his country’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia while condemning the Houthi actions, according to the Saudi Press Agency. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed support for joint efforts to mitigate the security and economic consequences of the escalation.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry noted that the various calls emphasized the need to safeguard sovereignty and maintain regional stability. Officials highlighted ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing further deterioration in West Asia. The exchanges occurred as commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz faced continued disruptions linked to the broader conflict.
Yemeni government forces blamed the Iran-aligned Houthi militia for the airport strike and pledged a decisive response to protect national security. The Houthis claimed responsibility for four large-scale operations involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones within a 24-hour span. Saudi authorities have continued to update the public on measures to secure civilian infrastructure in the wake of the incidents.
