Pakistan Conveys Saudi Warning to Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks

Islamabad/Agencies: Pakistan conveyed a Saudi warning to Iran, urging it to rein in the Houthi group in Yemen following intensified attacks on the kingdom, as part of a coordinated effort to prevent the crisis from escalating, Saudi, Pakistani, and Iranian sources told Reuters. The Houthis launched an attack on Tuesday targeting an air base in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in neighboring cities, injuring 73 people. The sources said the message to Tehran was clear: “Either rein in the Houthis or risk turning a proxy conflict into a wider regional security crisis.” A senior regional diplomat told the agency that Pakistan conveyed this message to Iran within the past 24 hours, urging Tehran to use its influence to stop Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. A senior Iranian official confirmed that Pakistan delivered the message to Tehran on Tuesday, and that Tehran’s response was that it “does not control the Houthis.” However, two Iranian sources said that Tehran had asked the Houthis last week to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia. They added that Tehran had promised additional funding and weapons, while several commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps traveled to Yemen to help coordinate the attacks. The regional diplomat said Islamabad is seeking to curb the Houthis before the escalation reaches a stage where Riyadh might pressure Pakistan to play a more active role in its defense. The diplomat told Reuters, “Pakistan has an agreement with Saudi Arabia, but I hope the situation does not reach the point where Pakistan is forced to intervene directly,” adding that it “is currently seeking a diplomatic solution.” A Pakistani source said Saudi officials met with senior Pakistani and Turkish military officials in Riyadh to coordinate their response. The source added that the three countries agreed not to deploy their forces into Yemen, and that any response would be launched from Saudi territory. A second Pakistani source said no decision had been made to join retaliatory strikes, emphasizing that the military agreement with Riyadh is defensive and limited to protecting Saudi territory. He clarified that Pakistani forces could provide military, technical, land, or air support within the Kingdom, but would not participate in combat operations on foreign soil. A regional diplomat said the pressure campaign being waged by Iran and the Houthis could backfire on Tehran’s objectives. Another regional source said Saudi military retaliation would remain focused on the Houthis and not on Iran itself. Saudi officials also do not believe that Houthi attacks will achieve Tehran’s broader goal of ending the US blockade. The same source said Riyadh is not expected to pressure Washington to lift the blockade, noting that Trump believes sustained economic pressure is the best way to negotiate. The source said, “The question is how much pressure Iran can withstand, and for how long? Trump does not want a military solution; he wants to pressure them to exit the blockade.” This comes as Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Tuesday that the trilateral Mecca Defense Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey could enter into force if the fallout from the conflict in Yemen spreads to Riyadh. In a television program on Pakistan’s Geo News channel, the host referred to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and asked Asif whether the strategic agreement could be activated. Asif responded affirmatively, stating there is “no ambiguity,” as the agreement stipulates that any aggression against one party constitutes aggression against all parties.