Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for diplomacy during a phone conversation with Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as reported by the Saudi state news agency. The discussion focused on recent escalations in the region following attacks by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, on Saudi airports.
In a post on Telegram, Araghchi emphasized that a military approach would complicate the situation further and stated that the region's crises cannot be resolved through military means. He reiterated his stance from the previous week, asserting that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and that negotiations based on justice and fairness are necessary.
Araghchi expressed Iran's readiness to assist in facilitating dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen to help achieve a political resolution. This call for diplomacy follows a deadly attack on Riyadh airport, which resulted in 12 fatalities and 300 injuries. In response to the attack, US President Donald Trump indicated a potential reconsideration of the US role in Yemen and mentioned the possibility of resuming strikes on Iran, marking a shift from his earlier comments that no strikes would occur until after the US midterm elections.
Despite historical tensions, Iranian and Saudi diplomatic ties have persisted, with embassies remaining operational under a 2023 agreement brokered by China. This followed a seven-year diplomatic rupture that intensified regional proxy conflicts. The relationship between Riyadh and Tehran has further deteriorated since the onset of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February, with Iran and its aligned forces targeting US military assets and energy infrastructure in the Gulf region, including Saudi oil fields.
In March 2026, Prince Faisal warned Iran that its tolerance for attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf states is limited, urging Tehran to reassess its strategy.