Tehran, October 17,2026: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday called for an inclusive political process to resolve the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, reiterating Tehran’s offer to mediate between the two sides.
“We support an inclusive and comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve the issue,” Araghchi said in a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad.
He said Iran was willing to facilitate dialogue and urged regional countries to work together to ensure collective security.
“Either we build security together, or we will endure insecurity together,” Araghchi said, adding that Tehran was ready “to cooperate with all its brothers and neighbours to achieve the first option”.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, previously said Riyadh had not responded to Tehran’s offer to mediate.
On Friday, Iran denied involvement in the Houthi attacks after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of encouraging the group’s escalation.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, energy infrastructure and oil tankers since a truce in their long-running conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognised government and its coalition backers unravelled in July.
Last week, a major attack on Riyadh’s international airport reportedly killed 13 people, further escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned group.
On Wednesday, the Houthis said they had targeted facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco after Saudi officials reported a strike on a building in Riyadh housing the energy giant’s operations centre.
Powerful explosions were also reported in the Saudi capital as the coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted a missile fired towards Riyadh.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting fuel and energy facilities that it said were being used to support missile and drone attacks.
The Yemeni group subsequently threatened a “harsh and painful” response against Saudi airports, refineries and oil installations.
Hours later, Saudi authorities issued warnings of potential hostile aerial threats in Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern province.
Witnesses reported loud explosions near Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, and a Saudi energy ministry official later confirmed an attack.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said four people — two women, a man and a child — were injured by debris from two intercepted Houthi cruise missiles in the capital. The incident also damaged 15 homes.
The latest exchanges have heightened concerns over regional security and the protection of critical energy infrastructure, as diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict face mounting challenges.
