In a significant diplomatic development, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia recently held a high-level phone conversation, during which they discussed bilateral relations and regional security concerns in depth. According to an official statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties between their nations.
During the discussion, Amir-Abdollahian highlighted the recent protests in Iran, noting that they initially emerged as peaceful demonstrations focused on economic and labour issues. However, he added, the situation escalated due to the organised involvement of elements linked to Israel, resulting in outbreaks of violence. The Iranian minister stressed that Iran would firmly safeguard its borders against any external threats.
Amir-Abdollahian also criticised certain remarks from U.S. officials, describing them as provocative and interfering. He underscored that regional nations have a collective responsibility to maintain stability and counter actions that could foment unrest or insecurity.
From the Saudi perspective, officials indicated that in the event of a potential U.S. military operation against Iran, Saudi territory and airspace would not be made available for such action. Two close Saudi government sources conveyed this information to AFP, explaining that the U.S. had issued warnings of possible measures in response to Iran’s domestic security crackdown amid ongoing protests. In light of these developments, Riyadh sent a clear message to Tehran, signalling non-participation.
A Saudi military official told AFP, “Saudi Arabia has directly informed Tehran that it will not engage in any military operation and will not permit the use of its territory or airspace for such purposes.”
The key points discussed during the conversation are summarised in the table below:
| Topic | Details | Source / Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral Relations | Strong commitment to reinforce ties | Iranian Foreign Ministry |
| Protests & Violence | Peaceful protests escalated due to external involvement | Amir-Abdollahian, Iran International |
| Border Security | Defence against foreign threats | Amir-Abdollahian |
| U.S. Remarks | Considered provocative and interfering | Amir-Abdollahian |
| Saudi Role | Non-participation in military action; no use of territory or airspace | Saudi military sources |
The phone call is widely regarded as a crucial step in maintaining bilateral relations and regional stability. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomatic solutions, particularly during a period of heightened uncertainty and geopolitical tension. Analysts note that such communications may pave the way for further confidence-building measures and enhance cooperation on shared security challenges in the Gulf and wider Middle East.