Abbas Araghchi, the Islamic Republic's foreign minister, discussed the escalating tensions in the region in a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday 11 October 2026. According to the Jerusalem Post, citing the official Saudi news agency, it was the two ministers' first public call since attacks on Saudi territory by Yemen's Houthis, an ally of the Islamic Republic, intensified.
According to the Saudi Gazette, the two ministers discussed the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation. Based on the same reports, Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart that Tehran was ready to help start negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. At the time of publication, Saudi Arabia had not publicly responded to the offer.
Houthi attacks on Saudi airports
The call came as the Houthis have targeted Saudi airports in recent days, including the attack on Riyadh airport and King Fahd Airport in Dammam, which left people dead and hundreds wounded. Al Jazeera reported that the Saudi health minister visited those wounded in Saturday's attack on Riyadh airport in hospital on Sunday.
The Islamic Republic's official news agency claimed that Araghchi said in the call that insisting on a military approach in Yemen makes the regional situation more complicated; yet the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia's civilian airports were carried out by the Houthis, a group that has for years enjoyed the Islamic Republic's backing, and the military operations of Yemen's government and the Saudi-led coalition have expanded in response to those very attacks.
The Islamic Republic's foreign minister spoke of mediating between Saudi Arabia and Yemen while Tehran's Houthi allies are targeting Saudi airports.
Background: Tehran–Riyadh relations during the war
Araghchi and Faisal bin Farhan have spoken by phone several times about regional developments during the months of the war, including in April–May. The Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations in 2023 through Chinese mediation.
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