Iran, Saudi Arabia discuss regional ‘insecurity’ as Yemen fighting flares

Tehran reported that Iran and Saudi Arabia's top diplomats held a phone conversation to address the increasing insecurity in the region. The meeting, as per Iran's foreign ministry, focused on the need to maintain cooperation and diplomatic efforts to prevent tensions from escalating and to restore stability. Although Yemen's ongoing conflict was not directly discussed, a separate statement on the situation in Yemen highlighted that resolving the crisis cannot be achieved through military intervention.

In July, Yemen returned to war following a period marked by sporadic violence and growing poverty. The Saudi-led coalition, which opposes Iran-backed Houthi rebels, reported that the Houthis had launched ballistic missiles and drones at various cities in southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthi group, which has been controlling Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the major port city of Hodeida for years, recently made a new push towards the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait - a crucial waterway linking Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal.

The Houthis have been employing drones and missiles to disrupt traffic in the Red Sea and have also attempted to enforce a maritime blockade on Saudi ports, while targeting oil infrastructure in the region.