Saudi Arabia: Targeting Gulf States Rejected Under Any Pretext

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed yesterday that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will not accept attacks on their territories, facilities, or vital interests under any pretext or guise, as anticipation builds regarding a meeting Iran says will take place today in Oman, attended by Gulf littoral states to review temporary Iranian-Omani navigation arrangements.

Speaking at the BRICS meetings in New Delhi, bin Farhan said, “Saudi Arabia’s security and the integrity of its territory and facilities are inviolable,” adding that “the security of the Arabian Gulf can only be stabilized by respecting the sovereignty of its states, refraining from interference in their internal affairs, and adhering to the principles of good neighborliness.”

He emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and all waterways worldwide, stressing that the stability of these routes is directly linked to energy security and international trade, and that any disruption there could impact global markets, supply chains, and economic growth.

No Omani statement has been issued confirming the hosting of the meeting between Iran, GCC countries, and Iraq, which reports indicated would take place in Salalah. No GCC country has announced its participation, except Bahrain, which rejected taking part in any meeting with Tehran under current circumstances, while Iraq stated it would send a delegation.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in statements published yesterday, said the meeting would be attended by Iran, five Gulf countries, and Iraq, adding that the agenda “centers on a new maritime route in Hormuz, and we will make the details of the agreement with Oman and maps related to the new route available to participating countries.”

Reports had previously indicated that Tehran and Muscat agreed on a temporary joint navigation route in the “Hormuz” strait, involving separate entry and exit routes, though many details of the arrangements remain unclear, particularly regarding the status of the southern route where the United States regulates navigation.

Araghchi reiterated that the agreement with Oman does not mean Iran will stop obstructing navigation in the strait, stressing that the condition for such a halt is the “return of the United States to its commitments outlined in the Islamabad memorandum.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described his talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit as “good,” adding that both sides agreed to turn the page on the past. He said, “We agreed to set the past aside and look to the future, and how we can build a future together.”

In parallel, UAE Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash affirmed that the meeting between the Crown Prince and the Iranian president “embodies the UAE’s approach based on the twin pillars of deterrence and diplomacy, as neither is viable without the other. Deterrence enhances the credibility of diplomacy, while diplomacy succeeds when it proceeds from a position of parity and capability, ultimately forming the optimal path toward achieving stable and sustainable regional security.”

He added, “It must be noted that Pezeshkian expressed positions and statements characterized by calmness and rationality throughout the prolonged crisis, which cannot be ignored at this delicate stage.”

Amid the Houthi escalation in Yemen and the steadfastness of Iraqi factions in their policy of attacking neighboring states, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated yesterday that GCC countries will not accept attacks on their territories, facilities, or vital interests under any pretext or guise. At the same time, Pakistan announced its full solidarity with the Kingdom and condemned attacks by Iran-aligned militias on its territory.

Bin Farhan, speaking during his participation in the BRICS meetings in New Delhi, stated, “Saudi Arabia’s security, territorial integrity, and facilities are inviolable.” He added that “the security of the Arabian Gulf can only be stabilized through respect for the sovereignty of its states, refraining from interference in their internal affairs, and adhering to the principles of good neighborliness.”

He emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and all waterways around the world, stressing that the stability of these routes is directly linked to energy security and international trade, and that any disruption in them could impact global markets, supply chains, and economic growth.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed in a phone call the developments of events and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region.

Sharif condemned the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s critical oil infrastructure and reaffirmed his support for the Kingdom’s security, while praising Riyadh’s stance of restraint and its support for Iraqi government efforts to prevent the use of Iraqi territory to attack Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.

On the ground, the Saudi Civil Defense announced that a projectile fired by the Houthi militia struck Al-Tawl province in the Jazan region, injuring two people and causing material damage to a mosque, several buildings, and vehicles.

In Yemen, developments are accelerating on fronts stretching from Hodeidah, Taiz, Al-Dhale’, Al-Bayda’, and Marib to Al-Jawf, as the government leadership attempts to overcome the repercussions of losing extensive positions on the western coast, reorganize its forces, and regain the initiative.

Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council and governor of Marib, described what happened on the coast as “painful and regrettable,” but noted it is part of the nature of wars characterized by advances and retreats. He affirmed that the loss would not divert the compass from the main objective.

Al-Arada clarified that the forces that withdrew from the coast are regrouping and will return to battle “one way or another,” pointing out that some soldiers have arrived in Marib and camps are being prepared for them, alongside arrangements to receive displaced persons and provide for their needs. He stressed that the focus remains on restoring state institutions and liberating Yemen from terrorist militias, and that the ultimate goal of the fronts, in Marib and elsewhere, is the recapture of the capital, Sanaa.

In the same context, the “National Resistance,” led by Presidential Leadership Council member Tariq Saleh, announced in a statement that more than 500 of its members were killed and around 1,500 others injured during battles that lasted from August 9 to September 10, compared to more than 1,000 Houthi fighters killed and thousands wounded.

The National Resistance accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its regional allies of directly supporting and managing the attack that resulted in the Houthis gaining control over extensive positions on the western coast.

The forces stated that the attack began with intense missile shelling and drone attacks, as well as bomb-laden boats, and expanded through the Hays, Al-Kadha, Maqbanah, and Al-Barah axes, before the Houthis gained control over Hays, Al-Khukha, Al-Mukha and its port, the Bab al-Mandab strait, Miun Island, and other Yemeni islands in the southern Red Sea.

They affirmed that the redeployment was carried out to preserve the “striking force” and reorganize deployments, emphasizing their continued confrontation with the Houthis and that losing a battle “is not the end of the road.”

Humanitarianly, the Houthi escalation in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah has led to the displacement of 9,746 families comprising 68,338 people across six governorates, amid warnings of severe shortages in shelter, water, food, and health services, and a critical gap in the humanitarian response.

In Iraq, Prime Minister Ali al-Zoubi has decided to gradually reopen border crossings closed with Iran following a review of their regulatory, security, and technical conditions. In a stance consistent with the emphasis on border control and preventing the use of Iraqi territory in regional conflicts, al-Zoubi affirmed that Iraq “will not serve as a battleground for others’ conflicts or a launching pad for aggression against neighboring countries,” stressing the need to strengthen state authority, ensure independent decision-making, and support security institutions. He further emphasized that any attempts to undermine Iraq’s security will be thwarted by the unity of the Iraqi people and their steadfast support for their government and armed forces.