TEHRAN, October 12, 2026 — Iran has offered to help facilitate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement as escalating cross-border attacks raise fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the offer during a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Sunday. The two ministers discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, according to reports from Iran’s official IRNA news agency and Saudi state media.
Araghchi expressed concern over the intensifying hostilities, arguing that continued reliance on military operations while sidelining diplomatic efforts would make the crisis more difficult to resolve.
He said the region’s conflicts could not be settled through military force alone and reiterated Tehran’s readiness to assist efforts to open talks and establish a political framework for resolving the confrontation.
The offer comes as fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis has intensified. Saudi-led forces have stepped up air operations against Houthi-controlled areas, while the group has launched missile and drone attacks against targets inside Saudi Arabia, including airports and energy infrastructure.
The violence has increasingly affected Saudi territory. An attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 caused substantial casualties and disrupted airport operations. Further incidents were reported the following day, prompting heightened security measures and calls for retaliation.
Saudi Arabia has vowed to respond to the attacks, while the Houthis have threatened further operations if the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen continues. The exchanges have raised concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Yemen and threaten critical regional transport and energy routes.
Iran’s proposed role as a mediator presents a diplomatic opening, although no formal negotiations or agreement were announced following the foreign ministers’ telephone conversation. Riyadh has previously accused Tehran of supporting the Houthis, while Iran has maintained that regional disputes require political solutions.
The latest diplomatic contact therefore comes at a time of heightened mistrust between the regional rivals. Whether Tehran’s offer can lead to substantive talks will depend on the willingness of the parties involved to pursue negotiations alongside the continuing military confrontation.
