Iran has called on Saudi Arabia to pursue a diplomatic solution to its escalating conflict with Houthi rebels in Yemen, warning that continued military action could worsen the crisis.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the appeal during a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, urging Riyadh to prioritize political negotiations over military operations.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Araghchi warned that maintaining a military approach while disregarding diplomatic options would further complicate the situation.
Tehran also expressed readiness to provide any form of support to facilitate the commencement of negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
The diplomatic appeal comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement over the weekend, with attacks targeting strategic infrastructure and raising concerns about further regional instability.
More than a dozen people were killed and hundreds injured in what officials described as the most serious attack to date on Riyadh’s international airport.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the assault and warned that Saudi airports and airspace would remain legitimate targets.
The group said it had deployed ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones against airports and energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, including installations belonging to state-owned oil company Aramco.
The reported attacks on energy infrastructure have heightened concerns about the potential impact of the conflict on regional security and critical oil facilities.
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The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out more than 120 airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and other provinces within 24 hours.
However, the claims about the airstrikes could not be independently verified.
The latest escalation adds to years of hostilities between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which receives support from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement has fought the Saudi-backed government for more than a decade in a conflict that has caused widespread destruction and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
A truce reached in 2022 largely halted major fighting between the warring sides, although it did not produce a comprehensive peace agreement or resolve the underlying political disputes.
Hostilities have now intensified again amid the wider regional war involving Iran, raising fears that renewed attacks could undermine previous efforts to stabilise Yemen.
Iran’s offer to support diplomatic talks signals Tehran’s push for a political solution as tensions between the opposing sides continue to rise.
However, it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia and the Houthis will agree to renewed negotiations or whether the latest exchanges of attacks will lead to further military action.
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