ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday backed Pakistan’s mediation and diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution to the US-Iran conflict, as tensions increase between the two over the Strait of Hormuz blockade and Tehran’s fresh attacks targeting the UAE.
The UAE said Iran launched fresh attacks against it on Monday, adding that Emirati air defenses intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones that injured three. The UAE’s eastern emirate of Fujairah also said an Iranian drone sparked a fire at an oil facility.
The attacks took place amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington struck seven Iranian “fast boats” after vowing to help stranded vessels out of the strait that Iran has effectively shut since the war began in February.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s concern regarding the current military escalation in the region, and calls for the necessity of de-escalation, refraining from further escalation, exercising restraint, and supporting the Pakistani mediation and diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution that prevents the region from sliding into further tension, undermining security and stability, which does not serve the interests of the region and the world,” the Saudi foreign ministry said.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran. Islamabad has relayed messages between the two countries and facilitated direct peace talks between Washington and Tehran last month that failed to achieve a breakthrough.
Pakistan on Monday facilitated the release of 22 crew members of an Iranian ship that was seized by US forces in April. Islamabad had said it would hand over the crew to Iranian authorities on Monday, praising the “confidence-building measure” by Washington.
Pakistan’s government has formed a close bond with Trump since his second stint in office and also enjoys cordial ties with Iran. Islamabad has attempted to leverage these ties to help broker peace between the two states, as it suffers from the economic fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran in the shape of higher oil prices, inflation and energy supply disruptions.
