Iran Urges Saudi Arabia to Seek Talks as Houthi Attacks Grow

Iran has called on Saudi Arabia to seek a diplomatic way out of its escalating conflict with Yemen's Houthi militia, warning that further military action would only deepen the crisis.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivered the message in a telephone call with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan.

 

"Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation," Araghchi said.

 

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Tehran is ready to "provide any form of support" to help get talks started.

 

The call came after fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-allied Houthis escalated sharply over the weekend.

 

Officials said more than a dozen people were killed and hundreds injured in an attack on Riyadh's international airport, the most serious strike on the facility so far.

 

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack and warned that Saudi airports and airspace were "legitimate targets."

 

The militia said it had fired ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at airports and energy facilities, including installations owned by state oil giant Aramco.

 

The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out more than 120 airstrikes on Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, and other provinces within 24 hours.

 

The claims could not be independently verified.

 

The Houthis have been at war with Yemen's internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government for more than a decade.

 

A truce agreed in 2022 largely froze the conflict, but fighting has flared again against the backdrop of the wider war involving Iran. (dpa)