Iran Calls on Saudi Arabia for Peace Talks with Houthis

Iran has called on its rival, Saudi Arabia, to seek a peaceful way to end the conflict with the Houthi militia in Yemen.

Iran cautioned that ongoing military actions would only make things worse.

During a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, "Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation."

Iran is ready to "provide any form of support" to help kick-start dialogue, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

Recent Escalation

The tension between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi militia escalated significantly over the weekend.

Officials reported that over a dozen people died and many others were injured in the most serious attack on Riyadh’s international airport so far.

The Houthis took responsibility for the attack and stated that Saudi airports and airspace are now "legitimate targets."

They claimed to have fired ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at airports and energy facilities, including those belonging to the state-owned oil company Aramco.

Airstrikes and Fighting

The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of launching over 120 airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and other areas within just 24 hours.

These claims have not been verified independently.

The Houthis have been in conflict with the Saudi-supported internationally recognized government in Yemen for more than ten years.

A ceasefire was agreed in 2022, which mostly paused the fighting, but clashes have reignited amid the wider conflict involving Iran.