Iran's foreign minister phones Saudi counterpart and offers help to open Saudi-Houthi dialogue

12 October 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi telephoned Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday 11 October. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said they discussed the recent escalation in the region and the efforts being made to address it. The Tribune (ANI), citing Al Jazeera, reported it as the first publicly reported contact between the two ministers since the Houthis intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia. According to a statement from Tehran, Araghchi said: "Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation", and offered Iran's help in starting dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. On Monday Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said: "We do not want hostilities to continue between two Muslim countries".