Saudi Arabia Urges Iran To Strive For Regional De-Escalation

The Saudi Foreign Minister has called on Tehran for collective efforts to bring peace to the region amid the war in Gaza and attacks in the Red Sea.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in an interview with NBC on Friday emphasized the crucial need for de-escalation and conveyed a message to all regional actors.

"We all need to work towards de-escalation. The region is already in turmoil. Our message to everyone, including to our neighbors in Iran, is that we need to work towards de-escalation."

The conflict in Yemen has evolved into a proxy battle between the Saudi and Iranian governments. In 2014, Iran-backed Houthi rebels aimed to overthrow the Yemeni government, while Saudi Arabia supported the established government during the ensuing civil war. Hoping to establish a permanent cease-fire, Saudi Arabia sent a delegation to meet with Houthi officials last year.

Currently, the Houthis are actively attacking vessels in the Red Sea as part of Iranian pressure amid the Gaza war. They have declared that these assaults will continue until Israel ends its siege on Gaza.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized Iran as "the head of the octopus," holding the regime responsible for the actions of both the Houthis and Hamas.

Despite global condemnation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the leader of the Islamic Republic has expressed admiration and approval for the militia.

In a speech delivered on Tuesday, Ali Khamenei asserted that the Houthis have dealt a significant blow to the "vital arteries of Israel."

The Shiite Houthi group in Yemen, recognized as Ansarullah, has received substantial financial and military support from the Islamic Republic.