First Saudi-Iranian contact since the start of the war in the Middle East

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi discussed ways to reduce tensions in the region, according to official media reports on Thursday. This marks the first contact between the two countries since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, which has seen Tehran launch attacks on infrastructure and military sites in the Kingdom.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry saying that bin Farhan “received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Araqchi.” The statement added: “During the call, they discussed current developments and ways to reduce tensions in order to contribute to the return of security and stability to the region.”