Iran and Saudi discuss diplomacy after Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

Iran and Saudi Arabia held a phone call on Sunday to address regional tensions. Tehran urged diplomatic negotiations and offered to mediate between Riyadh and Yemen. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that military action will only deepen the crisis. He stated “there is no military solution” and said “only negotiations based on justice and fairness” can resolve the conflict. Tehran also pledged to assist in restarting talks.

The diplomatic push comes after a deadly Houthi attack on a Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded 300. The Houthis operate with Iranian backing. The strike has intensified security concerns across the Gulf. Tehran and its aligned forces have also targeted US military assets and energy infrastructure in the region, including Saudi oil fields, since late February.

US President Donald Trump responded to the airport attack by saying he would reconsider America’s role in Yemen. He is weighing the resumption of strikes on Iran. This marks a sharp shift from his comments on Thursday. Washington previously stated it would not resume strikes on Tehran until after the US midterm elections. Last week, Araghchi reiterated that negotiations are the only path forward.

The conversation highlights the fragile state of Saudi-Iranian relations. The two countries restored diplomatic ties in 2023 through a Chinese-brokered agreement. This ended a seven-year rupture that had fueled proxy conflicts. However, tensions have worsened since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February.

Saudi leadership has already signaled that patience is wearing thin. In March 2026, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud warned Tehran that tolerance for attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf states is limited. He urged Iran to recalculate its regional strategy.