Egypt urges ‘immediate’ halt to attacks on Saudi Arabia in call with Iranian foreign minister

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called Tuesday for an immediate halt to all attacks targeting Saudi territory during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The two ministers discussed regional developments, rapidly evolving tensions and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, the ministry said in a statement. Abdelatty stressed the need for an immediate halt to all attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, the ministry said. “There is no justification for these attacks and they cannot be accepted,” the minister said. He underlined the importance of reducing tensions and containing regional escalation because of its negative repercussions for the security and stability of countries in the region and beyond, according to the statement. The Egyptian minister also called for “prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions and returning to negotiations and dialogue between Iran and the US,” describing diplomacy as the “only path” to resolving outstanding disputes and preventing the region from sliding into further escalation and instability. Iran’s Fars news agency also reported the call, saying Araghchi and Abdelatty exchanged views on the latest regional developments, including the situation in Yemen, as well as diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement Sunday condemning the attacks and reaffirming support for Riyadh’s legitimate measures to counter and deter them. The statement followed a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 13 people and injured 309 others. In September, Cairo said Egyptian and Saudi national security are “interconnected and inseparable,” while warning that continued Houthi attacks risked fueling wider regional tensions. Saudi Arabia has faced a series of attacks in recent days on airports and civilian facilities amid an escalating military confrontation with the Houthis. The escalation began in July following a period of relative calm after a UN-brokered truce took effect in April 2022. ​​​​​​​Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.