Iran Offers to Mediate Between Saudi Arabia and Houthis as Airport Attacks Continue

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered on October 12, 2026, to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, warning that military solutions would further complicate regional crises, according to statements reported by GV Wire, The New Arab, and Bernama citing Iran's official IRNA news agency. Araghchi made the offer during a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday evening, stating that Iran was ready to provide any possible assistance to initiate dialogue between the two sides and help reach a political settlement. The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed the call took place and said the ministers discussed the latest regional escalation and efforts to address it, but provided no details on whether any agreements were reached or whether Riyadh accepted the mediation offer. The call came one day after a Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 12 people and injured 309 on October 10.

The offer raises the question of whether Iran can credibly mediate a conflict involving a group widely described as its proxy, and whether Saudi Arabia, already facing continuing Houthi missile and drone attacks, would accept Tehran's help. The timing follows Pakistan's pledge on October 12 to provide full military backing to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, and comes as the Saudi-led coalition intercepted further ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh and Khamis Mushait on October 12. Saudi Arabia has not publicly responded to the mediation offer, and operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remain suspended until at least October 17.

Sources

GV Wire (The New York Times), October 12, 2026, "Iran Offers to Mediate Between Its Houthi Allies and Saudi Arabia," gvwire.com The New Arab, October 12, 2026, "Iran offers to mediate Saudi-Houthi talks as attacks mount," newarab.com Bernama (via Anadolu Agency), October 12, 2026, "Iran Offers To Mediate Between Saudi Arabia, Houthis Amid Regional Escalation," bernama.com The Media Line, October 12, 2026, "Saudi Arabia Running Low on Interceptor Missiles; Iran Offers To Mediate Houthi Conflict," themedialine.org