The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran held a telephone conversation on the recent escalation of the conflict in the region and efforts to reduce tensions, the Saudi state news agency reported on Sunday, October 11.

This contact constitutes the first publicly reported communication between the two officials since the intensification of attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran.

According to the Saudi news agency, the conversation focused on the latest security developments in the Middle East and the possibilities of avoiding a further escalation of the conflict. The diplomatic contact comes at a sensitive moment for the region, where repeated attacks and the involvement of various actors have raised concerns about the expansion of the clashes and their consequences for regional security.

Iran's Foreign Minister said Tehran is ready to provide any assistance that can facilitate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The statement was made via a post on his Telegram account, signaling Iran's readiness to support diplomatic efforts regarding the situation in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels have carried out several attacks on Saudi Arabia in the past week, raising concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the kingdom. According to information published in Reuters reporting, an attack on Riyadh's international airport on Saturday killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The agency described the incident as the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.

Recent developments place Saudi Arabia and Iran facing the need to keep diplomatic channels open, despite the tensions related to the regional conflict and the role of various actors in it. Relations between the two countries are of particular importance for the stability of the Middle East, while any escalation could have consequences for security, the economy and transport in the region.

The conversation between the two Foreign Ministers does not necessarily imply the reaching of an agreement or the resolution of the disputes between the parties, but constitutes a diplomatic development at a time when the need for dialogue has increased. It remains to be seen whether this contact will be followed by other concrete steps to reduce tensions and whether diplomatic efforts will help prevent new attacks.