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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivered a speech from his office at the Saudi Green Initiative forum’s opening ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. — Reuters/File
– Iran’s president, MBS, discuss regional security over a call.
– Masoud Pezeshkian warns US threats could destabilize the region.
– Riyadh reiterates its support for dialogue to resolve conflicts.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during their phone call on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia will not permit attacks on Iran to originate from its territory.
The prince “affirmed the kingdom’s stance on respecting Iran’s sovereignty, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or land to be used for any military operations against Iran,” according to an official statement from Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry.
He also emphasized that Riyadh supports all efforts aimed at resolving disputes through diplomatic means.
During the conversation, the Iranian president cautioned that US threats against Tehran would only contribute to regional instability. Pezeshkian remarked that “American threats and psychological tactics are aimed at destabilizing the region’s security and will only lead to increased chaos for themselves,” as reported by his office.
He also told MBS that unity among Islamic nations can ensure long-term security, stability, and peace in the area. The Iranian leader added that Tehran consistently welcomes any international-law-based initiatives that aim to prevent war.
This phone call coincides with the U.S. announcing a large, multi-day air force exercise in the Middle East. The exercise intends to demonstrate the U.S. military’s capacity to deploy and sustain combat airpower across the region, the U.S. Air Force’s Central Command said. Specific dates and locations have not been disclosed.
Saudi Arabia has become the second Gulf state after the UAE to publicly declare it will not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory or airspace. On January 26, the UAE foreign ministry reaffirmed that the UAE “has committed to not permitting its airspace, land, or waters to be used for any hostile military operations against Iran.” The UAE hosts thousands of U.S. personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi and other regional military facilities. The statement emphasized that the best approach to current crises is through dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for national sovereignty.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that any crackdown on protesters would prompt U.S. military intervention and encouraged Iranians to seize control of state institutions, claiming “help is on the way.” However, earlier this month, he pulled back from ordering strikes, asserting Tehran had halted executions after pressure from Washington.
Protests began in Iran in late December, primarily driven by economic issues, with large demonstrations continuing for days starting January 8.
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