The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran engaged in diplomatic contacts amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the two ministers addressed recent developments in the region and diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions during the call. Minister Bin Farhan stressed Saudi Arabia's determination to ensure regional security and stability, and stated that the kingdom would continue to play its role in line with the common interests of all regional countries and their peoples.
Talks Held in Shadow of US-Iran Conflict
The meeting of the two foreign ministers took place in the shadow of reciprocal military attacks between the US and Iran in recent weeks. In the 13 days leading up to July 24, the US conducted airstrikes on targets inside Iran, while Iran targeted American military facilities and equipment in a number of Arab countries.
Before this escalation, on June 18, Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding and started negotiations to reach a final agreement. However, the process had stalled due to disagreements over the safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is critically important for global energy supply and trade.
On February 28, the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran; the Tehran administration announced that more than 3,000 people had lost their lives in this attack. Iran claimed that American and Israeli soldiers were killed in its retaliatory attacks.
