Iran’s foreign minister met with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who asserted that “the Council looks forward to entering a new phase of relations [with Iran] based on common interests and mutual respect, which contributes to the stability and security of the region” .

Following a round of negotiations with the Huthis, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry welcomed “the positive results of the discussions aimed at achieving a road map to support the peace process in Yemen”, and encouraged “the Yemeni parties to engage in the dialogue to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen under the supervision of the UN”.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed that if the Iranians obtained a nuclear weapon, “we have to get one for security reasons, for balancing power… We are concerned if any country getting a nuclear weapon”. Bin Salman also commented on the prospects for normalisation with Israel and stated: “Every day we get closer. It seems it’s for the first time a real one… [It would be] the biggest historical deal since the Cold War”.

The U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states concluded a ministerial meeting with a statement supporting “diplomatic engagement by Saudi Arabia and other GCC states with Iran to pursue regional de-escalation”. They also reiterated “their commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region and their determination to deter illegal actions at sea or elsewhere that might threaten shipping lanes, international trade and oil installations in the GCC states”. Participants further urged “Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency” and “to cease its proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles and other dangerous weapons that pose a grave security threat to the region”. The joint statement went on to reaffirm “their commitment to work together to deter and address threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity and other destabilising activities”, while expressing “support for the United Arab Emirates’ call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands”. On 22 September, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss chargé d’affaires, whose country represents U.S. interests in Iran, describing the statement’s claims as “baseless”.

The U.S. and 62 other countries, including the E3, jointly issued a statement at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting stressing “the urgent need for Iran to clarify and resolve [safeguards] issues in a manner satisfactory to the IAEA. Iran must provide technically credible answers to the IAEA, as required by its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement”. They also urged Iran to clarify “the discrepancy in the amount of nuclear material verified by the Agency at the Esfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (originating from the Jabr Ibn Hayan Laboratories), compared to the amount declared… [and] implementation of modified Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangements to its Safeguards Agreement, including the provision of the required early design information”.

The Saudi ambassador to Iran, Abdullah bin Saud Al-Anzi, took up his post in Tehran, and Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia landed in Riyadh. Al-Anzi stated: “Both the Kingdom and Iran are neighbouring countries with abundant economic resources, natural resources and advantages that contribute to enhancing development, prosperity, stability and security in the region”.

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian travelled to Riyadh, and asserted that “relations with Tehran and Saudi are on the right track and we are witnessing progress”. His Saudi counterpart stated that “our meeting today is a continuation of the steps taken towards implementing the agreement to resume diplomatic relations, which represents a pivotal platform in the history of the two countries and the path of regional security”. The following day, Amirabdollahian met Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and subsequently asserted: “We had frank, clear and direct conversations... The idea of security and development for everyone was emphasised by both sides”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen indicated that “the Saudis made several demands of the U.S., which, in their view, are key to advancing the normalisation process with Israel. Most of these request concern Iranian aggression and the kingdom’s ability to defend itself against this threat”. He further asserted that “a nuclear-armed Iran is no mere hypothetical threat. If the regime builds a nuclear weapon, it would almost certainly ignite a regional nuclear arms race… The U.S.’s defence commitment acts as South Korea’s deterrent against Northern aggression. A comparable American defence pledge could reassure Middle Eastern nations, primarily Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states”. Cohen also argued that “a united front, bringing together moderate Sunni nations and Israel, would be an effective check on Iran’s growing ambitions”, adding: “This solution is no substitute for the ceaseless efforts of the international community, and of Israel, to prevent the Iranian ayatollah regime from attaining nuclear military capabilities. The way to achieve this is through international economic and diplomatic pressure and a credible military threat that will force the Iranian regime to recalculate its path”.

The Saudi foreign ministry reiterated that “the natural resources in the maritime ‘Divided Area’, including the entire Al-Durra gas field, are exclusively owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as the two countries have the full sovereign rights to exploit the resources of the area”, It further renewed the invitation for “Iran to engage in negotiations concerning the eastern border of the maritime Divided Area, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait to be represented as one negotiating party, while Iran represents the other party”.

After Kuwait’s oil minister remarked that Kuwait would begin drilling in the Arash/Al-Durra gas field, shared with Saudi Arabia, without waiting for an agreement with Iran over disputed areas, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson affirmed that “we want joint exploitation of the Arash gas field, and we announced our readiness for talks with the Kuwaiti side in this regard…However, if perhaps there is no desire for joint exploitation of the field, Iran has naturally put on its agenda its own rights and interests concerning the exploration and exploitation of its resources and it will not tolerate any violation of the rights of the Iranian nation”.

Israel’s foreign minister asserted that “we are the closest we have ever been to a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia”; the same day Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson reiterated that “we consider any action aimed at recognising the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and establishing relations with this regime neither in the interest of Palestine’s cause nor peace in the region”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited Saudi Arabia and conferred with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi officials on “bilateral and regional matters, including initiatives to advance a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous and stable Middle East region interconnected with the world”. According to a White House readout, “Sullivan also reviewed significant progress to build on the benefits of the truce in Yemen… and welcomed ongoing UN-led efforts to bring the war to a close”.

The U.S. and the Arab League concluded a strategic dialogue with a joint statement in which they denounced “any threats, armed seizures and attacks against commercial ships that interfere with navigational rights and freedoms in the strategic waterways of the region”, adding: “We resolve to increase our commitment to pursue collective efforts to address threats to the security of vessels traveling through the region’s waterways that are critical to international trade and the global economy”.

In response to a joint Russia-GCC statement expressing support for “all peaceful efforts, including the initiative of the United Arab Emirates and its endeavours to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa”, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted: “These islands belong to Iran forever and issuing such statements is in contradiction with the friendly relations between Iran and its neighbours”. The following day, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador and “demanded that the Russian Federation rectify its stance on the matter”.

After an Iranian oil ministry official announced Iran’s readiness to start drilling in the Arash/Al-Durra gas field, a Saudi official asserted that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait alone have full sovereign rights to exploit the wealth in that region”, while calling on Iran to negotiate over disputed areas.

Representatives from the U.S., the GCC and GCC member states participated in a “high-level, multilateral meeting in Bahrain… to discuss current maritime security and ways to further enhance maritime security in the region”. The participants issued a joint statement, expressing their “commitment to uphold navigational rights and operate consistent with international law, as well as pursue collective efforts to prevent threats to vessels traveling through regional waterways that are critical to international trade and the global economy”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Iran and met President Raisi and other senior Iranian officials. Speaking alongside his Iranian counterpart, bin Farhan described the talks as “positive and clear”, and emphasised “the importance of cooperation between the two countries in enhancing regional security, especially the security of navigation and maritime routes”, as well as that of “cooperation among all countries of the region to ensure that it is… free of weapons of mass destruction”. Amirabdollahian characterised the visit as “a positive step toward… promoting their ties and opening a new chapter in ties between the two Muslim and neighboring countries”. He also expressed support for “any move to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries”, and suggested “joint consultation committees and exchange of expert views” in different fields.

The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council denounced what it called “continued foreign interference in the internal affairs of Yemen, and the smuggling of military experts and weapons to the Huthi terrorist militia in clear violation of Security Council Resolutions 2216, 2231 and 2624”.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Riyadh for meetings with senior Saudi officials and GCC counterparts. A joint U.S-GCC ministerial statement reaffirmed “their commitment to freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region and their determination to counter aggressive and illegal actions at sea or elsewhere that might threaten the shipping lanes, international trade and oil installations in the GCC states”. The ministers also urged “Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency”, while hailing “the decision by Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations”. During his visit, Blinken commented on Iran-Saudi normalisation mediated by China, maintaining: “If countries, whoever they are, can play a positive role in helping to advance peace, de-escalate tensions… we think that’s a good thing.  And of course, the Saudis and Iranians have been talking together for at least a couple of years to get to this place. We’ll see what happens now. But again, if it reduces tensions, if it at least takes one problem off of the board, that’s very positive”.

Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh following the March agreement to restore diplomatic ties. Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia remarked that “we want more cooperation with each other and we consider the security in the region as a priority… Militarising security is a big mistake. Security in its new sense should be achieved through economic, commercial, social and cultural development”. The following day, Iran reopened its consulate in Jeddah.

U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking remarked that “despite the fact that we welcomed an agreement between the Saudis and the Iranians, I remain concerned about Iran’s role… The Iranians have continued to smuggle weaponry and narcotics toward the conflict [during the truce], and we are very concerned that this would continue despite the benefits that could come from a Saudi-Iran deal”. He further opined that “the Saudi-Iran agreement alone will not bring peace to Yemen. Huthis do not just take Iranian direction on peace efforts. And the Yemen conflict is about more than Saudi Arabia and Iran. There are internal tensions and divisions within the society that have helped fuel this conflict… Many people are sharing with us that in their conversations with Iran that Iran is supportive of a political process in Yemen. We want to see that borne out in fact, and we do not want to see a continuation of the smuggling and violation of UN Security Council resolutions, which characterised the previous seven years of Iran’s engagement on Yemen”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasised that Iran-Saudi rapprochement “is in line with the fundamental direction and trend of de-escalation that we have supported and encouraged even while we maintain pressure on Iran through sanctions and other means”.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence issued a report assessing that “Iran continues to be a significant threat actor, and it is now supplementing its traditional cyberattacks with a new playbook, leveraging cyber-enabled influence operations (IO) to achieve its geopolitical aims. Microsoft has detected these efforts rapidly accelerating since June 2022”. “These operations remain focused on Israel, prominent Iranian opposition figures and groups and Tehran’s Gulf state adversaries”, it noted. “Iran directed nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of its cyber operations against Israel between October of 2022 and March of 2023, with the U.S., United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also bearing the brunt of these efforts… The goals of its cyber-enabled IO have included seeking to bolster Palestinian resistance, fomenting unrest in Bahrain, and countering the ongoing normalisation of Arab-Israeli ties, with a particular focus on sowing panic and fear among Israeli citizens”. The report also predicted that “that future threat of increasingly destructive Iranian cyberattacks remains, particularly against Israel and the U.S., as some Iranian groups are likely seeking cyberattack capabilities against industrial control systems. Iranian cyberattacks and influence operations are likely to remain focused on retaliating against foreign cyberattacks and perceived incitement of protests inside Iran”.

Israel’s foreign minister indicated that a visit to Saudi Arabia “is on the table, there is no date yet”, and went on to contend: “The enemy of Saudi Arabia is certainly not Israel. Its enemy is Iran”. Relatedly, Prime Minister Netanyahu, discussing the March 2023 Saudi-Iranian agreement on restoring diplomatic relations and cautioning that “those who partner with Iran partner with misery”, posited: “I think it has probably a lot more to do with the desire to de-escalate or even eliminate the long-standing conflict in Yemen. I think that Saudi Arabia, the leadership there, has no illusions about who are their adversaries, and who are their friends”. He went on assert: “We’d like very much to have peace with Saudi Arabia... We would like to expand the circle of peace to its totality”.

Characterising Saudi-Iranian relations as moving toward “détente, not a rapprochement or reconciliation”, a senior U.S. diplomat posited that “it’s a very good thing, if, and it is a big if, Iran does hold to these commitments... But it would also be a departure from 40-plus years of Iranian foreign policy operations in constantly fostering insecurity, in its near abroad, and more than its near abroad, in order in some fashion to bolster its own security”.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated: “The U.S. welcomes the exchange of nearly 900 prisoners across both sides of the conflict today in Yemen”, adding: “We will continue to do all we can to help consolidate the truce that now been in effect for over one year... We encourage all parties to further consolidate these positive trends and ultimately forge a diplomatic resolution to the conflict”. 

Amid a visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Saudi Arabia, a U.S. official asserted that “our position is clear: we will not normalise relations with the Assad regime absent real progress towards a political solution to the underlying conflict… We have also made clear that the core architecture of our sanctions remains firmly in place”.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hailing “Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary efforts to pursue a more comprehensive roadmap for ending the war in Yemen” and extending “full U.S. support for those efforts”. According to a U.S. readout, the two also conferred on “broader trends toward de-escalation in the region, while underscoring the need to maintain deterrence against threats from Iran and elsewhere”. Sullivan further “reaffirmed President Biden’s unwavering commitment to ensure Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, met in Beijing. Per a joint statement, “the two sides discussed the importance of activating and pursuing the implementation of the [March 2023] Beijing Agreement, thus enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation, and contributing to realising security, stability and prosperity in the region”. They also “agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions within the agreed period, proceed with the necessary measures to open the embassies of the two countries in Riyadh and Tehran, and their consulates general in Jeddah and Mashhad, and continue coordination between the two sides' technical teams to explore ways of boosting cooperation” in different areas.

The GCC Ministerial Council applauded the 15 March agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, expressing hope that it “would constitute a positive step for resolving differences and ending all regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means”. The Council also underlined “the importance of Iran’s commitment not to exceed the rate of uranium enrichment required for peaceful uses, and the need to fulfil its obligations and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency”. They further highlighted “the need for their participation in all regional and international negotiations, discussions and meetings… [that include not only] the Iranian nuclear program, [but] all security issues and concerns of the GCC states”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart spoke and decided “to hold a bilateral meeting soon to pave the way for the reopening of embassies and consulates”.

The Saudi finance minister remarked that “there are a lot of opportunities for Saudi investments in Iran. We don’t see impediments as long as the terms of any agreement would be respected”. He further emphasised: “Stability in the region is very important, for the world and for the countries in the region, and we have always said that Iran is our neighbour and we have no interest to have a conflict with our neighbours, if they are willing to cooperate… We have no reason not to invest in Iran, and we have no reason not to allow them to invest in Saudi Arabia. It is in our interest to make sure that both nations benefit from each other’s resources and competitive advantage”.

Following talks in Beijing, Iran, Saudi Arabia and China jointly announced an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to “resume diplomatic relations… and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months, and the agreement includes their affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in internal affairs of states”. A White House spokesperson indicated that “if this deal can be sustained… and the war in Yemen can end, and Saudi Arabia doesn’t have to continually try to defend itself against attacks from the Huthis who are funded and supported by Iran, in the end we welcome that”. 

The U.S. and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states issued a joint statement on Iran denouncing its “continued destabilising policies, including its support for terrorism and the use of advanced missiles, cyber weapons and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and their proliferation in the region and around the world”. The participants also insisted that “Iran’s nuclear advances… have no credible civilian purpose and are gravely exacerbating regional and global tensions”, while the U.S. reiterated “President Biden’s commitment not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”. The statement went on to voice a “commitment to expanding defence cooperation and interoperability to enhance their capabilities to constrain Iran’s ability to conduct destabilising activities and deter it from conducting future acts of aggression”, while highlighting diplomacy as “the preferred way to address Iran’s destabilising policies and nuclear escalation in a sustained manner”. They concluded by calling on “the international community to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions prohibiting transfers of arms and related materiel and ensuring accountability in this regard”.

Following U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Defence Working Group meetings in Riyadh, a senior U.S. defence official remarked that “there is a shared assessment between the U.S. and the GCC of the threats that face us… We spent extensive amounts of time today focused on the full set of threats from Iran, whether it’s Iranian proliferation of UAVs to non-state actors across the region… and, of course, the ongoing threat to U.S. forces who are in Iraq and Syria”. She further highlighted that “Iranian aggression at sea remains a serious concern… the work to bring partners together and the increased rate of maritime interdiction speaks both to the serious nature of the threats we face at sea, and to how we can effectively address those threats through increased cooperation”. “We also spent time focusing on increased Iranian-Russian military cooperation, the illicit transfer of Iranian weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine that are actively killing Ukrainian civilians and how that increased military cooperation has serious implications for the stability and security of the Middle East”, the U.S. official added, while emphasising: “When it comes to the specific working groups, integrated air and missile defense and maritime… there has been no other moment in time in which the prospect for meaningful integration is more real than today”.

At a U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group on Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Maritime Security in Riyadh, according to a U.S. readout, the participants “welcomed opportunities to continue their work together to advance integrated deterrence in the region”, noting: “Due to the clear threat to regional security and stability, preventing Iran from holding the region at risk through its proliferation and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles, maritime weapons and unmanned systems is of the utmost importance”. Participants further “agreed on the shared objectives of improving collective early warning, streamlining coordination against shared threats, and building towards regional integration”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “we are trying to find a path to dialogue with our neighbors in Iran because we believe very strongly that dialogue is the best pathway to resolving differences”. He further noted: “We feel quite strongly that what we are doing in the Kingdom and what others in the region, especially the GCC countries, are doing in addressing the challenges of their economy and investing in their countries in focusing on development rather than geopolitics, is a strong signal to Iran and others in the region that there is a pathway beyond the traditional arguments and the traditional disputes towards joint prosperity… We can build a sense of cooperation in the region, the more we can work together, the more we can deliver not just prosperity for our people, but also for our immediate region and beyond”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian asserted that while attending the Baghdad II summit in Jordan, he had met with his Saudi counterpart, who reiterated Riyadh’s readiness “to continue negotiation with Iran”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian affirmed that “the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf are inseparable parts of Iranian soil and eternally belong to this motherland. We have no qualms about the necessity of other parties respecting Iran’s territorial integrity”. His remarks came in response to a joint GCC-China statement that had expressed “support for all peaceful efforts, including the initiative and endeavours of the United Arab Emirates to reach a peaceful solution to the [sovereignty] issue of the three islands”.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council asserted that “negotiations on Iran’s nuclear file and any future negotiations with Iran should include addressing its destabilising behaviour in the region, its sponsorship of terrorism and sectarian militias, its missile programs [and] the safety of international navigation and oil facilities”, emphasising “the need for GCC states’ participation in those negotiations and all relevant regional and international discussions and meetings”. The Council also raised “concern over Iran’s escalatory steps to tamper with regional security and stability, reaffirming its rejection of continuous Iranian interventions in the internal affairs of the GCC states and the region, fueling sectarian conflicts and supporting, financing and arming militias, organisations and groups that fuel such conflicts, including providing them with ballistic missiles and drones”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the accusations as “baseless”.

CENTCOM announced that it had conducted a bomber task force mission “with thirteen partner nation air forces, showcasing the ability to rapidly deploy global airpower alongside coalition and regional partner forces and ensuring the security of this critical region”.

Iran’s intelligence minister blamed the U.S., UK, Israel and Saudi Arabia for the anti-government protests in the country, while warning Riyadh: “Any instability in Iran can be contagious to the countries of the region. Faraway countries are the destabilisers of the region... Iran has so far adopted strategic patience with pure rationality, but it does not give any guarantee for the continuation of this strategic patience in case of the continuation of hostilities. Undoubtedly, if Iran decides to reciprocate and punish these countries, the glass castles will collapse and these states will not see stability”.

Following media reports that Saudi Arabia had provided the U.S. with intelligence described as signaling Iranian intentions “to carry out attacks on both the kingdom and Erbil”, a White House spokesperson indicated that “we are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis... We will not hesitate to act in the defence of our interests and partners in the region”. Iran’s foreign ministry rejected the report as “biased fabrication”, emphasising that “Iran believes improvement of stability and security in the region hinges on constructive interaction with neighbours”.

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami warned Saudi Arabia to “mind its behaviour and control its media [outlets] or [the actions] will backfire on itself” amid ongoing protests in Iran. He further called on “the neighbouring countries not to let Israel into Islamic territories because they seek to foment insecurity”.

With Yemen’s six-month truce up for renewal, the UN Special Envoy announced that an extension had not yet been reached and urged all sides “to fulfill their obligation to the Yemeni people to pursue every avenue for peace… I will continue my relentless efforts to engage with the parties to quickly reach an agreement on a way forward”. The following day, President Raisi spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and stated that “Iran has always emphasised on lifting the blockade and establishing a ceasefire and trying to resolve the crisis through Yemeni-Yemeni dialogues and understanding without foreign interference in this country”.

The U.S. military announced that “U.S. ground and naval units, as well as coalition and regional partner air forces [including Israel and Saudi Arabia] executed a Bomber Task Force mission across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility”. CENTCOM Commander Kurilla underlined that “this kind of operation demonstrates the collective capabilities of the military partnership we’ve developed in the Middle East. We have the ability to put a significant measure of combat power in the air alongside our partners very quickly. We can do the same on the ground and at sea”.

Meeting with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that “Iran wants peace, stability and security for the great Yemeni nation and believes that the stability and security of that country has a direct impact on the stability and the security of the entire region and the Persian Gulf”.

President Raisi underlined “the development of neighbourly relations as the principles of [his administration’s] foreign policy”, while noting: “Our emphasis to the neighbours is that you should not pursue your security with the presence of Americans or outsiders in the region. The security of the region is in the hands of the countries of the region”. Referring to a potential next round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Raisi maintained: “The Saudi side has obligations the fulfilment of which will open the way for further actions, and surely the diplomatic relations between the two countries depend on the implementation of these obligations”.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen announced that “the parties have agreed to extend the truce, under the same terms, for an additional two months… This truce extension includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible”. The U.S. State Department hailed the announcement, expressing commitment “to advancing a durable, inclusive peace agreement in Yemen… [and] to mitigating Yemen’s dire humanitarian and economic crisis”. A senior Iranian diplomat reiterated “Iran’s support for continued efforts to establish a lasting and just peace in Yemen”.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress that it had approved “a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $23.7 million”. It also backed a sale to the UAE “of Terminal High Altitude Areas Defense (THAAD) System Missiles, THAAD Fire Control and Communications Stations and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.245 billion”.

Commenting on Iraq-mediated talks between Saudi and Iranian officials, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson indicated that “due to the positive will of the parties, it is possible to hold the next meeting at the official and political level in Baghdad, and take a step in the direction of improving and resuming the relations between the two countries”.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced “the decision to open the Kingdom’s airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirement of the Authority for flying”. President Biden stated that “Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to open its airspace for all civilian planes, including those flying to and from Israel, is an important step towards building a more integrated and stable Middle East region”. “Saudi Arabia’s decision”, he added, “can help build momentum toward Israel’s further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia. I will do all that I can, through direct diplomacy and leader-to-leader engagement, to keep advancing this groundbreaking process”. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid also welcomed the announcement as the result of “a long road of intense and covert diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and the U.S.”, noting: “This is only the first step”.

A White House official noted that “bilaterally we’re talking with nations across the region about air defence capabilities specifically and what we can do to assist with their defence and then, exploring the idea of being able to kind of integrate all those air defenses together”. “There really is effective coverage to deal with Iran”, he added. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson described the U.S. goal as “Iranophobia and division among the countries in the region”, while a website close to Iran’s Supreme National Security council warned: “Creation of joint defense pact in the region by the U.S. with participation and hidden management of Zionists [ie, Israel] is a threatening act. If the implementation of such plans threatens security of Iran in any way, it will face initial decisive response to the nearest and most accessible targets”.

Presenting the thirteen biannual report on Security Council Resolution 2231’s implementation​, the UN ​under-secretary-general noted that the organisation had examined “the debris of nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and several UAVs used in various attacks by the Huthis against the territories of Saudi Arabia and the UAE since 2020”. “We also assessed these missiles and/or parts thereof to be of Iranian origin”, she reported, adding: “We have not been able to determine when the ballistic missiles or parts thereof may have been transferred from Iran”. The U.S. told the Security Council that it “strongly condemns these attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Iran’s continue proliferation of weapons to its proxies and partners in the region must stop”.

Iraqi Prime Minister al-Kadhimi traveled to Saudi Arabia and then Iran, where he met with senior Iranian officials. President Raisi told al-Kadhimi that “the talks of the countries’ officials can solve the region’s problems”, highlighting “the need for the officials of the countries in the region to negotiate to solve problems and issues with each other”. He further maintained that “normalisation of relations with Israel or the presence of foreigners in the region will not solve any problem”. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian told al-Kadhimi that “Iran wishes nothing but the welfare of the region and supports the reopening of [Iranian and Saudi] embassies in the capitals of the two countries”. The two also conferred on Yemen, where Amirabdollahian reiterated “Iran’s support for the continuation of ceasefire”.

In a joint statement with Jordan, Saudi Arabia stressed “the importance of supporting international efforts aiming at preventing Iran from owning nuclear weapons”, noting too “Arab efforts to urge Iran [to] commit to refraining from interfering in the affairs of Arab states... and sparing the region all destabilising activities”. 

Saudi Arabia sanctioned nineteen individuals and entities it said were “involved in activities that range from providing financial support to the Huthis to facilitating funding of the militia and smuggling Iranian fuel to it”.

U.S. Central Command announced that “coalition and regional partner air forces joined two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses… on a presence patrol mission across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility” the previous day. A senior U.S. commander highlighted that “these highly coordinated efforts demonstrate our combined ability to provide global reach and joint security to the region”.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and four other members of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against three individuals for being “part of two networks directed by and providing financial support to the IRGC-QF and its terrorist proxy Hizbollah”, and “two terrorist groups affiliated with the IRGC” active primarily in Bahrain. The designees had been previously sanctioned by the U.S.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen announced that “the parties to the conflict have agreed to the United Nations’ proposal to renew the current truce in Yemen for two additional months”. The U.S. State Department praised the announcement, emphasising that “the U.S. remains committed to an inclusive, durable resolution to the conflict”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that “Saudi Arabia is a critical partner to us in dealing with extremism in the region, in dealing with the challenges posed by Iran and also I hope in continuing the process of building relationships between Israel and its neighbors both near and further away through the continuation, the expansion of the Abraham Accords”.

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) ministerial council underlined “the need for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file, and any future negotiations with Iran, to include its destabilising behaviour in the region, its sponsorship of terrorism and sectarian militias, its missile program and the safety of international navigation and oil installations”. The ministers also emphasised “the need for the GCC states to participate in those negotiations and all regional and international discussions and meetings related to this matter”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson described the statement as “groundless and unjustifiable” with respect to the JCPOA, while highlighting: “Iran has always considered neighbourly interactions and cooperation as a solution to regional issues and welcomes all initiatives regarding the development of relations”.

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) ministerial council underlined “the need for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file, and any future negotiations with Iran, to include its destabilising behaviour in the region, its sponsorship of terrorism and sectarian militias, its missile program and the safety of international navigation and oil installations”. The ministers also emphasised “the need for the GCC states to participate in those negotiations and all regional and international discussions and meetings related to this matter”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson described the statement as “groundless and unjustifiable” with respect to the JCPOA, while highlighting: “Iran has always considered neighbourly interactions and cooperation as a solution to regional issues and welcomes all initiatives regarding the development of relations”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken conferred with his Saudi counterpart on, inter alia, “the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program and its destabilising behaviour in the region and opportunities for greater cooperation on regional issues”.

After Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian referred to possibility of a meeting with his Saudi counterpart, a Saudi official denied any scheduled meeting between the two, described the progress of Iran-Saudi talks as “not enough” and asserted: “Iran must build confidence for future cooperation, and there are several issues that can be discussed with Tehran if it has the desire to de-escalate tensions in the region”.

Asked about reports about “a U.S. brokered deal involving [Saudi Arabia,] Egypt and Israel”, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan maintained that “we always envisioned that there will be full normalisation with Israel… a full normalisation between us and Israel, between the region and Israel, will bring immense benefits – we won’t be able to reap those benefits unless we address the issue of Palestine”. On 26 May, the White House confirmed that two senior U.S. officials had been “in the region to follow up on conversations on a range of issues, including Iran’s destabilising activities, ensuring stable global energy supplies and other regional issues”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “we are very much focused… on delivering a vision of the future that is built on hope, that is built on prosperity, that is built on development, that is built on cooperation”, adding: “this is a message that… Saudi Arabia but also the other GCC states… are trying to send to our region, including to our neighbours in Iran. Our hands are stretched out”. “Going into a new era of cooperation in the region can deliver benefits for all of us”, he continued. “It needs a decision in Iran to sign onto that vision of a much more prosperous, cooperative future”. Farhan further noted that regional talks with Iran had “made some progress, but not enough”, urging “Iran to lean into what can be a very, very important sea-change in our region”. He also emphasised that “the JCPOA, if it, happens will be potentially a good thing if it’s a good deal. But for us, it is most important that we address the holistic issues – the nuclear nonproliferation, regional activity – and that can be done, but it needs a sincere desire to look to the future rather than the past”.

A senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader remarked that “Iran and Saudi Arabia… can complement each other’s capacities to ensure peace and stability and development in the region. The two countries have chosen the path of dialogue to resolve their differences”. He further contended that “the presence of foreign forces in the region has always led to successive conflicts and even war”.

Senior U.S. and Saudi defence officials convened the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Joint Planning Committee, where, according to a Pentagon readout, discussions addressed issues including “a broad range of security challenges throughout the Middle East region, including the war in Yemen, maritime threats and violent extremist organisations”. It added that: “The delegations spoke extensively about Iran’s destabilising activities in the region, and… agreed to enhance efforts to counter the smuggling of illicit weapons to violent non-state groups in the region”. The U.S. Undersecretary of Defense further “noted the need to work together on advancing regional integrated air and missile defence”, and “both sides agreed on the importance of continuing to advance the U.S.-Saudi military cooperation”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Arabia’s deputy defence minister, reiterating “President Biden’s commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory, and… appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s leadership in securing a UN-brokered truce in Yemen”.

The Saudi energy minister reiterated that “we [ie, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia] are proceeding with [the Dorra gas] field, we have made a joint public statement encouraging Iran to come to the negotiation table if they claim they have a piece of that [field] and it remains a claim”.

CENTCOM Commander Erik Kurilla described “Iran as the most destabilising force in the Middle East”, adding: “The U.S.’s position is that we will not allow a nuclear Iran. However, our concerns about Iran go beyond its nuclear capability”. He further indicated that “we are concerned about the smuggling of advanced conventional munitions by sea to support Huthi operations. Therefore, anti-smuggling operations with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces will serve as an area of focus for me… maintaining safe and secure waterways is a critical responsibility for us and our partners”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson confirmed that “the fifth round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad was held [on 21 April]… with the efforts of the Iraqi government and the preparations and assistance of the Omani government”, adding: “The talks were forward-moving and positive”.

The Saudi foreign ministry announced that the Kingdom and Kuwait had “agreed to expedite the development and exploitation of the Dorra field”, noting that they “had previously invited the Islamic Republic of Iran to negotiate the delimitation of the eastern boundary of the submerged divided zone but these call were not met”.  The two countries “as a single negotiating party, renew their invitation to the Islamic Republic of Iran to hold these negotiations”, Riyadh indicated.

Iran’s foreign minister asserted that in discussions with Iraq’s top diplomat they “agreed on welcoming the ceasefire in Yemen and the importance of Yemeni-Yemini talks and the lifting of the inhumane siege”. He also “welcomed the Iraqi government’s efforts to resume the Iranian-Saudi dialogue”.

Addressing Saudi Arabia, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei asserted: “There is no chance of victory [in Yemen]. So why does a war in which there is no chance of victory continue? Find a way out of this war”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson indicated that “we are ready for the continuation of talks [with Saudi Arabia] and for the settlement of differences. We have submitted our views in written form to the Saudi side, and they should express their views”.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen announced that “the parties to the conflict have responded positively to a United Nations proposal for a two-month Truce which comes into effect tomorrow”. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed hope that the “initiative will establish a new foundation for political talks and a lasting settlement”. Noting 30 March U.S. sanctions linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program, he further asserted that “even as we work to end the war in Yemen, there can be no doubt about President Biden’s commitment to supporting the defence of our partners, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia… We will continue to use all appropriate authorities to hold Iran and its proxy groups accountable for threats against our friends and partners”. Relatedly, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson welcomed the ceasefire announcement and reiterated support for “a political initiative to resolve the Yemen crisis”.

Saudi Arabia announced that it had “unilaterally and in coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department… classified 25 individuals and entities involved in the activities of facilitating the financial activities of the terrorist Huthis militia with the support of the Quds Force of Iran’s IRGC, working as an international network aimed at destabilising Yemen”.

The U.S. sanctioned “five Iranian individuals and entities… for their involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile-related activities”. According to the State Department, the designation followed “Iran’s recent missile attack on Erbil, Iraq, as well as missile attacks by Iranian proxies against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These attacks are a reminder that Iran’s development and proliferation of ballistic missiles pose a serious threat to regional and international security”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the U.S. move as “continuation of the failed policy of maximum pressure”, asserting: “The U.S. claims to be ready to return to full implementation of its obligations under the nuclear deal, while it continues to significantly violate the UN Security Council resolution 2231”.

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister acknowledged that Huthi attacks had impacted “our ability to supply the world with the necessary energy requirements”. He further remarked that “we have developed and delivered our side of the story… Others need to deliver their own side of the commitment. Otherwise, the very pillar of energy security will be disturbed, to say the least”. The minister also stated: “Who has been throwing these rockets and missiles at us and at Abu Dhabi? Who is financing? Who’s training? Who’s supplying these weapons? It is a member of OPEC”.

The U.S. and nine other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, conducted a bomber task force mission across the CENTCOM area of responsibility. A U.S. Air Force commander stated that “this mission clearly signaled our ability to quickly bring forces to the theatre and operate seamlessly with our partners during a training event that signals our combined commitment to regional stability and defence”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Saudi counterpart that the U.S. “again condemned the recent Huthi terrorist attacks against the Kingdom” and exchanged views on “the UN’s proposal for a Ramadan truce in Yemen and efforts to launch a new, more inclusive and comprehensive peace process”. Blinken also reaffirmed “the U.S. commitment to bolstering Saudi Arabia’s defences against threats in the region” and the two “discussed the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program”. The following day, meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Blinken expressed determination to help the UAE defend itself against the Huthis, adding: “We will be consulting on Iran, another shared challenge, the status of the talks on the JCPOA, but also the work we can do together and need to do together to strengthen our collective security”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over developing a gas field as “illegal”, maintaining that “parts of it are located in areas between Iran and Kuwait whose water boundaries have not been defined” and stating Tehran’s willingness to engage in bilateral and trilateral negotiations on the matter. He also noted that Iran “reserves the right to tap the Arash/Al-Durra gas field”. On 29 March, Kuwait’s foreign minister insisted that the field was “purely a Kuwaiti-Saudi field”.

The Huthis announced a 3-day “suspension of missiles and drone strikes and all military actions towards Saudi Arabia by land, sea and air” from 27 March, expressing “readiness to turn this suspension into a final, continuous and permanent commitment in the event that the Kingdom announced the withdrawal of all external forces of the coalition from Yemeni lands and waters, and a complete halt to support for its local militias”. On 29 March, Iran hailed the Huthi move and asserted: “If there is serious and positive engagement with this initiative, it can set the stage for ending the current war”. The Saudi-led coalition the same day announced a “cessation of military operations in Yemen” beginning 30 March.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile and ten armed drones bound for multiple Saudi cities. The coalition also reported that Huthi attacks caused a fire at an Aramco facility in Jeddah and additionally targeted water and electricity facilities. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had launched “large numbers of drones… [and] dozens of ballistic missiles” against Saudi targets. A U.S. official said “the attacks are unacceptable and have also affected Saudi infrastructure as well as schools, mosques and workplaces”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that Iran “welcomes a natural return to bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. However, mixed messages have been received from the Kingdom. We expect that the Saudis will act in the interest of the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting two Huthi “booby-trapped boats”, foiling what it described as an “imminent and hostile” attack against commercial shipping. “The Huthi militia is escalating its hostile attacks to target energy sources and the vein of global economy”, the coalition added.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson indicated that “we have been in close consultation… with our Gulf partners” regarding the Vienna talks, adding: “We are facing a shared challenge and, in some ways, a shared threat from Tehran. We’ve seen that in terms of Tehran’s support for terrorist groups, for regional proxies, its use of malicious cyber activity, the way in which it is funding and supplying some of the movements that are creating a much more volatile, unstable region. So, for our part, we will continue to partner closely with our partners in the Gulf, with our partners throughout the Middle East, to push back on Iran’s malign activity”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Jizan.

Media reports citing U.S. officials indicated that the U.S. had “transferred a significant number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia within the past month”, adding: “The transfers sought to ensure that Saudi Arabia is adequately supplied with the defensive munitions it needs to fend off drone and missile attacks by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen”. A U.S. military spokesperson did not confirm the reporting, but maintained that “we’re committed to helping Saudi Arabia defend itself against very real threats to their territory and to their people coming out of Yemen. We’re in constant discussions with the Saudis about this threat environment and always looking for ways to continue to help them defend themselves”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile and nine armed drones bound for targets including energy facilities and water infrastructure in multiple cities; debris caused material damages but no casualties. According to the statement, “Iranian cruise missiles” were used in the attacks. The following day the Saudi foreign ministry stated that Riyadh would “not incur any responsibility for any shortage in oil supplies to global markets in light of the attacks on its oil facilities”, highlighting “the gravity of Iran’s continued behaviour of equipping the terrorist Huthi militias with the technology of the ballistic missiles and advanced UAVs”, and urging the international community to “stand firm against the Iranian-backed Huthi terrorist militias”. The White House condemned the attacks, asserting: “The Huthis launch these terrorist attacks with enabling by Iran, which supplies them with missile and UAV components, training and expertise”. Urging the Huthis to engage with UN de-escalation efforts, the U.S. stressed that “we will continue to fully support our partners in the defense of their territory from Huthi attacks”.

The U.S. along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait conducted an exercise aiming “to enhance integration… in the area of air and missile defence”. A U.S. military official maintained that “in the face of the increasing threats we all face from malign actors in the region, we designed this combined exercise to enhance regional civil and military interoperability and process development and hone the skills necessary to defend our homelands and bases from the expanding air and missile threats”.

Iranian media reported that Iran had suspended the fifth round of the talks with Saudi Arabia, which according to Iraq’s foreign minister had been scheduled for 16 March.

Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry reported that a drone attack against an oil refinery had caused a “small fire”, which did not result in any casualties or damage. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted Aramco facilities in Riyadh, Jizan and Abha using drones.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Jizan.

The U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defence and Maritime Security in Riyadh. Participants denounced “Iran’s malign behaviour through proxies and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Iran has used these weapons and supported terrorist and other armed groups to conduct hundreds of attacks in the region”. They further emphasised “the importance of strengthening the ability of the GCC countries to collectively address these threats”, noting too “the importance of having advancing integrated defence initiatives” as well as prospective “joint training and exercises to prevent Iran from holding the region at risk”.

Saudi Arabia, in a joint statement with Egypt, emphasised “the importance of dealing seriously and effectively with Iran’s nuclear and missile file with all its components and its repercussions in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability”. They also highlighted “the danger of Iran’s hostile behaviour towards the countries of the region and the danger of the regime’s possession of weapons of mass destruction on the region and the world, and that any international agreement in this regard must be made with the participation of the countries of the region”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that Tehran and Riyadh “have different views and approaches on some issues in the region, but the management of those differences by the two sides can serve the interests of the two nations, as well as friendly and brotherly countries”. He further said that bilateral contacts had “created a good atmosphere and yielded results, albeit small ones, and we are pleased that Saudi Arabia has taken the path of dialogue. Such a view, if held continuously, can lead to positive results”.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remarked that “they [ie, Iran] are neighbours. Neighbours forever… It’s better for both of us to work it out and to look for ways in which we can coexist. And we had a four-rounds of negotiation. We heard statements from Iranian leaders which we welcome in Saudi Arabia. And we are going to continue through the details of the negotiation. Hopefully, we can reach a position that's good for both countries and is going to create a brighter future for this country and Iran”. He also noted: “Any country around the world that has a nuclear bomb – that’s dangerous, regardless if it’s Iran or any other country. So we don’t want to see that. We don’t want to see a weak nuclear deal”.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution expanding the arms embargo against the Huthis through February 2023 by a vote of 11 to zero, with four abstentions. The resolution urged countries “to increase efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons and components via land and sea routes, to ensure implementation of the targeted arms embargo”, while denouncing “the cross-border attacks by the Huthi terrorist group, including attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson opined that the resolution would “have negative consequences for [the] peace process and positions of the conflicting parties”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a Huthi “booby-trapped drone” landed in Jizan; there were no reported injuries.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for an airport in Jizan. Debris injured sixteen.

Speaking alongside the Emir of Qatar, President Raisi remarked that “Iran seeks to help strengthen and promote regional relations… The countries of the region should pursue and operate crises and issues within the region through further consultations and talks”. “I extend my hand of friendship to all countries in the region, especially our neighbours, in the interests of the nations and maximum interaction”, he remarked. Raisi also told the Qatari Emir that “the expansion of the Zionist regime’s [ie, Israel’s] presence in the region is to the detriment of all countries, because this regime will overshadow the stability and security of other countries”.

In a joint statement with the EU, GCC ministers “stressed that a full and effective implementation of the JCPOA can contribute to comprehensive and lasting efforts to ensure that the Gulf region remains permanently free of nuclear weapons and help address other regional issues”. The communique also condemned “in the strongest terms” Huthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian conveyed to his Iraq counterpart “Iran’s readiness to continue talks with Saudi Arabia”, noting: “This depends above all on the will of the other side”. The same day, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed interests in the resumption of bilateral talks with Tehran, while noting a “lack of substantive progress” in prior discussions. He also maintained that a revived JCPOA would be “a starting point, not an end point” in tackling regional issues, adding: “That will indeed require from our neighbours in Iran a serious desire to address the underlying issues that exist... We hope that there is a serious desire to find a new modus operandi… If we see substantive progress on those files, then yes rapprochement is possible. So far we have not seen that”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive-laden boat… in the south of the Red Sea”.

The Saudi Cabinet asserted that “the Kingdom is committed to deescalating tensions in the region and supporting efforts by the U.S. to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons”, while highlighting “the need to work together to counter the destabilising activities of Iran’s proxies in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Abha International Airport; debris injured twelve. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully “targeted an important military site” at the airport. The White House condemned what it described as a “terrorist attack”, pledged to hold the Huthis accountable and reiterated its commitment “to supporting Saudi Arabia in the defence of its people and territory”.

President Biden conferred with King Salman on “regional developments and issues of mutual concern, including Iranian-enabled attacks by the Huthis against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia”, reiterating “the U.S. commitment to support Saudi Arabia in the defence of its people and territory from these attacks and full support for UN-led efforts to end the war in Yemen”. Biden also emphasised “his commitment to ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon and briefed the King on ongoing multilateral talks to reestablish constraints on Iran’s nuclear program”. 

A Danish court found three members of an Iranian opposition group, Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahwaz (ASMLA), “guilty of financing and supporting terrorist activity in Iran in collaboration with Saudi Arabian intelligence services as well as espionage”.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the State Department “approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $23.7 million”. It noted that “the proposed sale will provide the Saudi armed forces with… support necessary to protect Saudi Arabia, and the region, from the destabilising effects of terrorism, countering Iranian influence and other threats”. The State Department also approved the sale of $65 million in weapons to the UAE.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson remarked that “our Saudi partners are now in a position to prevent about 90 per cent of… incoming [Huthi] projectiles. Of course, we want to raise that to 100 per cent. And we’re committed to working with the UAE and Saudi Arabia to help them bolster their defences. We’re doing that through security cooperation, through arms transfers, defence trade, exercises, training and exchanges”.

The U.S. Navy announced the commencement of the International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2022, described as “the Middle East region’s largest maritime exercise… [that] includes 9,000 personnel and up to 50 ships from more than 60 partner nations and international organizations”. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Israel were among the participants.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian told his Qatari counterpart that “in recent weeks, we have witnessed an increase in military moves regarding Yemen, and such moves will lead to outbreak of further wars in Yemen and the region, and destroy the path to peace”. The following day, during a conversation with the UN Secretary-General, he emphasised Iran’s approach of “supporting a political solution to end the war in Yemen”.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and the UK jointly “strongly condemned the Huthis’ repeated attacks against civilians within Yemen, including U.S. local staff in Sanaa and their continued heinous terrorist attacks against Saudi Arabia and more recently the UAE”, while recognising “the legitimate right of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to defend themselves”. The five countries also conferred on “the illicit Iranian provision of missiles and advanced weaponry to the Huthis in violation of UNSCR 2216 and UNSCR 2231”.

Referring to Huthis airstrikes against Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a U.S. diplomatic spokesperson remarked that designation of the Huthis as a terrorist organisation was “under review”, adding: “we will continue to work with out allies and partners in the region especially to promote accountability for the Huthis, for those Huthi leaders that have been behind these terrorist attacks… I would venture to guess you will see additional steps on our part”. “We’re not going to relent in designating Huthi leaders and entities involved in military offensives that threaten civilians”, he added, while asserting: “When you talk about the humanitarian crisis, there is one actor that is primarily responsible for the suffering of the Yemeni people, the widespread suffering of the Yemeni people. And that is the Huthis”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi missile bound for Saudi Arabia; debris caused material damage. Another missile landed in a civilian neighbourhood in Jizan, injuring two and causing material damage. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted “sensitive sites in Jizan and Asir [and] a number of military bases” with missiles and drones. The same day, CENTCOM confirmed that “U.S. forces at al-Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi in the UAE, engaged two inbound missile threats with multiple Patriot interceptors” and, along with UAE forces, “successfully prevented both missiles from impacting the base. There were no U.S. casualties”. The Huthi official said that other than the base, they had attacked “vital and important sites in Dubai” using drones. The U.S. denounced the attack as a “troubling escalation” and expressed “commitment to help strengthen the defence of our Saudi and Emirati partners”. Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that “we are concerned about the escalation of the war and call on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to take a political and constructive approach to end the humanitarian blockade, end the war and accept the Yemeni-Yemeni talks as the continuation of the ongoing situation is not in the interest of the region”.

Speaking with his Saudi counterpart, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored “the U.S. commitment to help Gulf governments improve their capabilities to defend themselves against threats from Yemen and elsewhere in the region and underscored the importance of mitigating civilian harm”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing multiple Huthi drones bound for Saudi Arabia.

The UAE confirmed that “small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones” had caused the explosion of three petroleum tankers owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, in addition to “a minor fire” at Abu Dhabi International Airport; the former resulted in three deaths and six injuries. The Huthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, using missiles and drones, “in response to the escalation of the U.S.-Saudi-Emirati aggression”, and claimed that other “important and sensitive Emirati sites and facilities” had been targeted. The U.S. condemned the attack, as did Israel, where Prime Minister Bennett offered “intelligence and security support” to the UAE. Too, a senior Saudi official contended that the Huthis “aren’t interested in peace and remain hostage to their regional backer”, adding: “Huthi terrorism is perpetuated by a flow of Iranian weapons”. Iran’s foreign ministery spokesperson, without referring to the attack specifically, called for “a calm atmosphere away from tensions and violence”.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley met with a Vienna-based Saudi diplomat; the State Department indicated that “these engagements are part of the U.S. commitment to consulting closely with our regional partners on the ongoing [JCPOA] talks”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that the Huthis had “targeted the civilian communications infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia” with drones.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing five Huthi drones bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi drones bound for Najran, followed by intercepting “a hostile aerial target… launched towards Taif city” the next day.

UK Maritime Trade Operations said it had “received reports of an attack on an MV [motor vessel]… approximately 23 nautical miles west of Ras Isa Marine Terminal”. The Saudi-led coalition identified the vessel as the UAE-flagged Rwabee, accused the Huthis of “piracy and hijacking” and indicated that the ship had been “carrying medical field equipment”. The Huthis maintained that it had “entered Yemeni waters without authorisation” and bore “clearly military equipment”. The U.S. denounced the seizure, calling on “the Huthis to immediately release the ship and crew unharmed and to cease all violence that sets back the political process to end the war in Yemen”.

King Salman remarked that “Iran is a neighbour to the Kingdom, and we hope it will change its negative policies and behaviours in the region and moves towards dialogue and cooperation”. He further referred to “the formation and support of sectarian and armed militias, the systemic deployment of its military capabilities in regional countries and its failure to cooperate with the international community regarding its nuclear program and the development of ballistic missiles”, as concerns. 

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “there have been more than 375 [Huthi] cross-border attacks since the beginning of the year… They endanger not only our Saudi partners but the 70,000 U.S. citizens residing there”. He added: “With U.S. support Saudi Arabia has been able to knock down some 90 per cent of those attacks. Of course, our goal is to see to it that that number rises to 100 per cent. We will continue to work with our Saudi partners to stand up against these really deplorable Huthi attacks, and we will continue to hold the Huthis accountable for their reprehensible actions”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that Huthi projectiles had struck Najran and Jizan; two civilians were killed in the latter incident. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully “targeted important and sensitive sites [in Jizan]... with three ballistic missiles”. 

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian met with his Iraqi counterpart in Tehran and hailed “Baghdad’s initiative to host talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia”. He also announced that “last week, Saudi Arabia agreed to grant visas to three of our diplomats who will start work at the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Jeddah”. Amirabdollahian further indicated that “we offered a set of practical and constructive proposals to the Saudi side” in prior discussions, voicing hope that “the two countries’ delegations will meet in Baghdad in the near future and will work on the implementation of the next phase of the agreements”. Discussing the JCPOA negotiations, Iraq’s top diplomat posited: “the time has come for direct talks between Washington and Tehran to reach common understandings not just on the nuclear issue, but also on sanctions”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “armed drone attempting to target Abha International Airport”, in addition to intercepting “an explosives-laden boat in the southern Red Sea”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian accused Saudi Arabia of being “very late in making a decision” regarding the evacuation of Iran’s ambassador to the Huthis back to Tehran while he was suffering from what was described as a fatal COVID-19 infection. The Saudi-led coalition described Iran’s claim as “defamatory” and noted that Riyadh “had commenced the facilitation of evacuating the aforementioned person for humanitarian considerations, and in recognition of the diplomatic mediation by the brotherly Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Iraq in less than 48 hours of reporting his health condition”.

GCC and UK foreign ministers jointly underscored that “this is the last opportunity to restore the JCPOA as Iran’s continued nuclear escalation is permanently eroding the benefits of the deal and undermining regional and international security”, adding: “the JCPOA is the best avenue towards inclusive, and more lasting diplomatic efforts to ensure regional security in a Gulf region permanently free of nuclear weapons”. They further raised “grave concern about the escalation in Iran’s destabilising activities in the region” and denounced “the proliferation of advanced ballistic missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) used by Iran and its proxies in hundreds of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson characterised the communique as “baseless” and maintained: “[Iran] considers the means of resolution of the regional problems to lie in interaction and cooperation, and therefore welcomes whatever constructive initiative in this area”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait; the following day it intercepted another drone aimed at an airport in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi missiles bound for Abha; Saudi Arabia also reported material damage in Jizan caused by a Huthi projectile.

The Supreme Council the Gulf Cooperation Council voiced willingness “to cooperate and deal seriously and effectively with the Iranian nuclear file”, emphasised “the need for the GCC countries to participate in any negotiations with Iran” and denounced “Iran for failing to adhere to its international commitments regarding Uranium enrichment”. The GCC further underlined “the need to address the destabilising behaviour of [Iran in] the region and support extremist sectarian militias… the Iranian missile program, including ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, the safety of international navigation and oil installations and the continuation of coordination and consultation with brotherly and friendly countries in this regard”. They also condemned “Iran's interference into Yemen’s domestic affairs and smuggling weapons to Huthi militias”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the statement and asserted: “the Islamic Republic does not brook any interference in its peaceful nuclear energy program, its defensive missile program and the issues that have to do with its military and deterrent defensive policies”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “so far the reports [on JCPOA negotiations] show there is some stalling by Iran and we hope this will turn to progress… GCC states prefer to be part of the talks that would be open to any mechanism that addresses their concerns”. The Saudi diplomat went on to state that “we want a long and comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran, and we hope the negotiations will succeed. We want to have a normal relationship with Iran, and that depends on it”.

Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy indicated that “we would like to push these discussions [with Tehran] towards substantive issues that involve the behaviour of the Iranian government in the region. But as long as the Iranians continue to play games with these talks they are not going to go anywhere… We are not interested in talks for the sake of talks”. He further asserted that the Yemen war “has proved to be intractable simply because the Huthis continue to receive a continuous supply of weapons and ammunition from their benefactors, particularly Iran”.

Following Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salam’s visit to Doha, Saudi Arabia and Qatar jointly highlighted “the importance of cooperation and dealing seriously and effectively with Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs with all its components and repercussions… emphasising the principles of good neighbourliness and respect for the UN resolutions and international legitimacy and sparing the region from all destabilising activities”. The following day, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also issued a joint statement “stressing the importance of cooperation and dealing serious and effectively with Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs”, and urging “the concerned parties to take into account the interests, security and stability of the countries of the region”. Relatedly, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan underscored that “we continue to support a return to the deal. But we see it as incomplete; any return [to the JCPOA] should be only the first step towards a longer and stronger deal… The current deal doesn’t protect us from an Iranian nuclear or military capability”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a Huthi “projectile… landed near a marketplace in the Saudi city of Jizan”. The following day the coalition announced the downing of a Huthi drone.

Meeting the UAE’s National Security Advisor, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, affirmed that “warm and friendly relations with neighbours as well as an exchange of economic, trade and investment capacities are the Islamic Republic of Iran’s main foreign policy priorities… Through cooperation and collective efforts, countries in the Persian Gulf region can both bring prosperity to their nations and also play an important role as an energy hub in the regional and international economy”. During a separate meeting, President Raisi asserted that “the security of the countries of the region is intertwined and Iran supports the security of the Persian Gulf littoral states”.

Saudi Arabia reported downing a ballistic missile fired by the Huthis toward Riyadh; the Saudi-led coalition also downed two Huthi drones bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted several “military sites… with a number of ballistic missiles and 25 drones”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing four Huthi drones bound for southern Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive-laden boat… in the south of the Red Sea”, in addition to downing a Huthi drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “launched air raids on ‘legitimate’ Huthi military targets in the capital Sanaa including a ‘secret’ site belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently characterised the Saudi claims as “baseless”, asserting that Iran had “never maintained a military presence in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Najran airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “explosives-laden drones” bound for Saudi Arabia, adding that two Huthi-fired missiles targeting the Kingdom fell short inside Yemen. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted with drones multiple “military and vital targets” in Saudi Arabia.

Officials from the U.S., Germany, France and the UK, GCC, Egypt and Jordan convened in Saudi Arabia and conferred on “the political and security situation in the region, including Iran’s actions… [and] the upcoming seventh round of talks on the return of Iran and the U.S. to mutual, full compliance with the JCPOA”. The U.S. and E3 hailed “regional partners’ efforts to deescalate tensions and promote dialogue in the region”, and “affirmed their determination to continue to address broader security concerns of the region”. They emphasised too that “enhanced regional dialogue and a return to mutual compliance with the JCPOA would benefit the entire Middle East, allow for more regional partnerships and economic exchange, with long-lasting implications for growth and the well-being of all people there, including in Iran”.

U.S. and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials held a “Working Group on Iran” in Riyadh and denounced “a range of aggressive and dangerous Iranian policies, including the proliferation and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)”. They concurred “that Iran’s nuclear program is of great concern”, and also “that Iran’s support to armed militias across the region and its ballistic missile program pose a clear threat”. According to a joint statement, “members of the GCC briefed on their efforts to build effective diplomatic channels with Iran to prevent, resolve or de-escalate conflicts, backed by strong deterrence and defence cooperation with the U.S.”, underscoring that “deeper economic ties after the lifting of U.S. sanctions under the JCPOA are in the mutual interest of the region”, and warning: “these diplomatic efforts will not succeed if Iran continues to provoke a nuclear crisis”.

Saudi Arabia reported downing two Huthi “explosive-laden drones” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

CENTCOM announced that two B-1 bombers “flew a presence patrol mission in the Central Region that included several coalition and partner nation air forces… [which] represented the U.S. led coalition’s commitment to promoting regional stability through partnership”.

Saudi-led coalition reported the downing of three Huthi ballistic missiles bound for Saudi Arabia.

The U.S., Israel, Bahrain and the UAE started a five-day “multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea”. The commander of U.S. 5th Fleet maintained that “maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability”. Commenting on the drill, an anonymous Israeli officer told the reporters that the “[Iranian] presence is something that we need to push back as much as possible from the State of Israel, from the Red Sea, from the areas that harm our freedom to sail… In order to do that, we need to make our partnerships tighter”. The following day, both Saudi Arabia and Israel reported escorting two U.S. B-1 bombers crossing “the Red Sea airspace” and “Israeli skies on their way from the Gulf”, respectively.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait, in addition to thwarting “an imminent attack” by “ an explosive-laden boat” against the port of Hodeida.

Saudi state media reported downing “a Huthi drone” bound for Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Jizan.

The U.S. administration notified Congress of “a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $650 million”. A State Department official noted that “we’ve seen an increase in cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past year. Saudi AIM-120C missiles… have been instrumental in intercepting the persistent UAS attacks that have put U.S. forces at risk and threatened the more than 70,000 U.S. citizens in the Kingdom”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

Discussing a diplomatic rupture between Riyadh and Beirut, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “dealing with Lebanon and its current government is not productive and not helpful with Hizbollah’s continuing dominance of the political scene”. “Engagement [with Lebanon] at this point is not productive or useful. And it’s not really in our interest”, Farhan added. “The political scene in Lebanon continues to be dominated by Hizbollah, a terrorist group, a group that by the way, arms and supplies and trains that Huthi militia”. Subsequently, Lebanon’s foreign minister underscored that “If they just want Hizbollah’s head on a plate, we can’t give them that… Hizbollah is a component of politics in Lebanon. It has a regional armed dimension, yes, but this is beyond what we can resolve”.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “the talks [with Iran] are cordial but remain in an exploratory vein. We continue to hope that they will produce tangible progress ... but so far, we have not made sufficient progress to be optimistic… we are open to continue”. The following day Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that “we are still some distance away from reopening of the embassies in Tehran and Riyadh… If we can start this process, I must say that it can start soon”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing five Huthi ballistic missiles bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Abha International Airport.  

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Jizan.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley met with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and discussed, according to Saudi state media, the JCPOA negotiations and “joint action to stop Iranian support for terrorist militias”.

The UN Security Council denounced “Huthi cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia… [and] the increasing number of incidents off the coast of Yemen, including attacks on civilian and commercial ships”. The members urged “an immediate nationwide ceasefire, in accordance with resolution 2565 (2021), and called for the resolution of differences through inclusive dialogue and the rejection of violence to achieve political goals”. The council also “called on all Member States and other actors to comply fully with their obligations under the targeted arms embargo”.

Urging a “quick resumption” of JCPOA talks, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan contended that “I think we are in a very dangerous place. The fact that we continue to see acceleration of those activities ... leads to the devaluation of the JCPOA”. He further referred to Iran-Saudi talks and remarked: “These interactions, while cordial, have been exploratory in nature and have not reached a state where we can say that we’ve made substantial progress”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “booby-trapped drone” bound for Jizan.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken conferring on “U.S.-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional issues, including the common goal of reaching a durable solution to end the conflict in Yemen”. According to a U.S. readout, Blinken expressed “the U.S. government’s commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory and people and reiterated U.S. condemnation of Huthi attacks on the Kingdom”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting two Huthi “explosive-laden boats”, and stated: “the Huthis continue to threaten shipping lines and international trade in the Bab al-Mandab strait and the southern Red Sea”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “booby-trapped drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “five people received minor injuries after a Huthi projectile fell on Jizan airport”. The following day, Saudi Arabia’s UN ambassador wrote to the Security Council president and called on the council “to shoulder its responsibility towards the Huthi militia, their weapons supplier and the resources which fund their terrorist acts”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi explosive drone bound for Abha International Airport; debris injured four. Later in the day, the coalition also intercepted one ballistic missile and two explosive drones bound for Khamis Mushait. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh “condemn[ed] the outrageous attacks by the Huthis against civilians”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting three Huthi “explosives-laden boats in the Red Sea”. The same day, the coalition targeted two drones in Yemen that it said were ready “to carry out an imminent hostile act towards Saudi Arabia”. A Huthi military official claimed that they had downed “an unmanned combat reconnaissance aircraft” in Marib province.

The U.S. State Department condemned a 3 October Huthi missile attack in Marib, and highlighted that “there is an international consensus that now is the time to end the conflict, and the Republic of Yemen Government and Saudi Arabia have committed to stop fighting and resume political talks. The Huthis are standing in the way of peace”. Washington went on to assert that “since the beginning of the year, the Huthis have intensified their attacks, both inside Yemen and against Saudi Arabia… We call on the Huthis to stop fighting and engage in UN-led talks to bring an end to this devastating war”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell briefed Saudi officials “on the prospects of restarting Vienna talks about the nuclear deal with Iran”, and posited that “even if Saudi Arabia and the countries in the region are not directly sitting in the negotiation table, their concerns and their worries will be taking very much into consideration”.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed that “the fourth round of talks [between Iran and Saudi Arabia] took place on 21 September”, adding: “these discussions remain in the exploratory phase. We hope they lay the foundation to address the issues between the two sides and we will work to achieve that”. U.S. Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley praised the announcement, and expressed hope that “dialogue will contribute to de-escalation of tensions and address long-standing regional concerns”. “Full, mutual return to the JCPOA would support these regional efforts”, he added.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Jizan; debris inflicted damage to a residential neighbourhood without causing any casualties. The following day, the coalition intercepted another drone aimed at Khamis Mushait.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the UN General Assembly that “Saudi Arabia supports international efforts to ensure that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons”, while urging “the international community to assume its responsibilities toward Iran’s continuous breaches and violations of international agreements and treaties related to its nuclear agreement”.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior U.S. officials met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and senior Saudi counterparts. According to a Saudi readout, Sullivan emphasised “the strategic partnership between the two countries’ and the ironclad U.S. commitment to support the Kingdom’s territorial defence against all threats, including Iranian sponsored missile and drone attacks”, in addition to supporting “the Saudi goal of advancing a durable political solution and end to the Yemeni conflict”. The two further called for “intensive diplomatic engagements” and highlighted “the importance of the Huthis participating in good faith in political talks with the legitimate Yemeni Government under the auspices of the UN”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi UAV bound for Khamis Mushait.

Media reports cited Iraqi officials revealing that Iranian and Saudi officials had held talks in Baghdad the previous week, with one unnamed source indicating the two sides addressed “pending issues between the two countries according to a previously agreed on roadmap, including diplomatic representation between the two countries”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for the Kingdom.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a Huthi ballistic rocket fired in the direction of the Saudi city of Najran”; Two other Huthi missiles reportedly fell short inside Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a Huthi explosive drone” bound for Abha.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “there has been remarkable progress in the talks over security in the Persian Gulf… talks [between Tehran and Riyadh] have never stopped  and messages have been exchanged in proper level after the new administration in Iran took office”. He further said that “if Saudi Arabia pays serious attention to Iran’s message that the solution to the region’s problems lies in the region itself and there should be an inclusive regional solution, the two countries may have a good, sustainable relationship”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Jizan, in addition to three armed drones bound for Saudi territory.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and GCC ministers met and conferred on, inter alia, “work to achieve a common approach toward a durable solution to the conflict in Yemen”. Blinken emphasised that “the U.S. joins our Gulf partners in condemning the Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including civilians and infrastructure”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and GCC ministers met and conferred on, inter alia, “pursuing diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA, and countering Iran’s continued aggressive behaviour in the Gulf”. The following day, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley met with the Saudi foreign minister.  

King Salman told the UN General Assembly that “Iran is a neighbouring country. We hope that our preliminary talks with it lead to tangible outcome to build trust, paving the way to achieve aspirations of our peoples in building relations of cooperation based on the compliance with principles and resolutions of the international legitimacy, respect for sovereignty, and avoid interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, as well as its cessation from all types of support for terrorist groups and sectarian militias”. He further indicated that his country “supports the international efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons”, while voicing “grave concern over Iranian actions which are contradictory to its commitments and pose stark contrast to what Iran always claimed that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes”.

Iran’s foreign minister joined senior officials from the Gulf in an Iraqi-chaired follow-up to the Baghdad Conference on Cooperation and Partnership, and remarked that Iran had “always emphasised that we need endogenous and indigenous security arrangements to create stability and security in the region”. Amirabdollahian underscored that “foreign presence and intervention in any form are contrary to the goals of peace and security in the region… the priority of the new government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to strengthen and develop relations with its neighbours and the region”. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, attendees reiterated “their support for the Iraqi government and people… and stressed the need to solve them through cooperation and mutual benefit and in accordance with the principles of international law, good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported thwarting “an imminent attack” by two Huthi “booby-trapped boats off the coast of the Hodeida port in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi “booby-trapped drones” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting two Huthi “booby-trapped boats” in the southern Red Sea, “thwarting an imminent attack”.

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) ministerial council voiced hope that the Raisi administration “would play a positive role in alleviating the tension and building trust between the GCC states” and Iran, and “that the nuclear talks would tackle Iran’s destabilising role in the region and its sponsorship of terrorist and sectarian militias as well as the country’s missile program, and the safety of international navigation and oil facilities”. The council went on to condemn “Iran’s failure to meet its nuclear obligations through accelerating uranium enrichment above the level needed for peaceful purposes”, calling on “Iran to back down from this move and cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson dismissed “any interference in its peaceful nuclear and missile programs as well as issues pertinent to its defence policies”, while contending that “the region needs a paradigm shift to rid itself of outside dependence and turn to constructive inter-regional interaction and go for inclusion rather than exclusion”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “four Huthi explosives-laden drones and a ballistic rocket” bound for Jizan. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive drone” launched towards Abha International Airport.

Referring to an IAEA report on Iran’s safeguards commitments, the Saudi representative to the Agency contended that “unless its belligerent intentions are firmly contained, Tehran’s recklessness risks proliferation in the region… The entire safeguards system is at stake. Only firm positions taken by the Board of Governors can save it”. “Because Iran has repeatedly lacked transparency and procrastinated in cooperating with the IAEA, the world at large lacks the necessary assurances regarding its nuclear program”, he added, urging “Iran to fully comply with its Safeguards Agreement obligations”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a Huthi explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

In response to media reports on the U.S. having withdrawn some Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon’s spokesperson confirmed “the redeployment of certain air defence assets”, while noting that “the Defense Department continues to maintain tens of thousands of forces and a robust force posture in the Middle East representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of U.S. national interests and our regional partnerships”. The Saudi government asserted that “the redeployment of some [U.S.] defence capabilities… is carried out through common understanding and realignment of defence strategies as an attribute of operational deployment and disposition”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “explosive drones” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi foreign minister chaired a session of the Arab Ministerial Quartet Committee that discussed, inter alia, “strengthening joint coordination to stop Iranian interference in the region and its financing of the Huthi militia in Yemen and other terrorist groups”, as well as “the importance of imposing the mechanisms for a rapid and comprehensive inspection of all Iranian nuclear sites”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson dismissed what he described as “absurd accusations” by the grouping of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt.

The Saudi Defence Ministry reported downing “three ballistic missiles and three bomb-laden drones” fired by the Huthis at Saudi territory; debris injured two and caused damage to a residential neighbourhood. The same day, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” aimed at Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted multiple Saudi energy and military facilities with six ballistic missiles and ten drones. The U.S. State Department described the Huthi attack as “completely unacceptable”, and urged “the Huthis to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire immediately and to stop these cross-border attacks and attacks inside of Yemen”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart and discussed “regional issues, including concern over the Huthis’ latest attack on the Saudi city of Abha”. He further voiced “the U.S.’s strong commitment to its longstanding strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to helping Saudi Arabia defend its people and territory”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi explosive drones inside Yemeni territory; another UAV bound for Khamis Mushait was intercepted the following day.

Iran’s ambassador to Iraq confirmed that “through the cooperation of the Iraqi government, we held three rounds of talks with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad, and the fourth round will be held following the formation of the new Iranian government”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Jizan.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson indicated that “we did not see any new talks” between Saudi Arabia and Iran during a regional summit in Baghdad, while insisting that “Iran spares no efforts in friendship with Riyadh”. “Tehran and Riyadh share many commonalties for achieving peace and stability in the region”, he added. “There are no unresolvable obstacles between the two countries. Resolving the issues only requires the political will and action of Riyadh and Tehran”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three explosive drones bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi UAV bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “booby-trapped drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi explosive drone bound for Saudi Arabia inside the Yemeni airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait.

An Israeli minister indicated “when it comes to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, there’s direct communication and understandings” on Iran.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi “explosive drones” bound for Khamis Mushait.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson maintained: “Not all differences need to be resolved, but we think that if Saudi Arabia heeds Iran’s message - that our region is a region where a comprehensive solution can be reached with the cooperation of the countries of the region - we can reach a conclusion”. He further contended that “the sooner the Saudi government shows its commitment to political solutions and ends this devastating war [in Yemen], the better for both this country and the region, and the peace and security of the region”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan contended that “all around the region, Iran continues to be emboldened… Iran is extremely active in the region with its negative activity, whether it's continuing to supply the Huthis with weapons or endangering shipping in the Arabian Gulf”. He further noted that “we certainly support a deal with Iran as long as that deal ensures that Iran will not now or ever gain access to nuclear weapons technology”. Farhan went on to highlight the importance of Iran “engaging in the region as a state actor in a normal way... not supporting militias, not sending weapons to armed groups, and most importantly, giving up a nuclear program which might be used... to develop nuclear weapons”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported foiling a drone attack against a Saudi commercial vessel.

U.S. Special Representative for Yemen Tim Lenderking met with senior Saudi and Yemeni officials and raised “concern that the Huthis continue to refuse to engage meaningfully on a ceasefire and political talks”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Saudi territory.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi drones and three ballistic missiles bound for Jizan.

The Secretary-General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was cited as saying that “Iran’s support for militias in the region should be included in ongoing talks in Vienna and the meetings should not be limited to only reviving the nuclear deal… Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries poses a threat to the region and is a matter of concern”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing four Huthi drones and a ballistic missile bound for Saudi territory. The U.S. State Department subsequently “condemn[ed] the Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following the calm over Eid al-Adha”, and said “the Huthis must stop their destabilising actions and commit to an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire to help end the Yemen war”.

Iran’s government spokesperson maintained that “regional negotiations are a constant necessity… We look at the negotiations with Saudi Arabia in a positive light”. He further indicated that “bilateral talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia is [sic] continuing through appropriate channels. We are committed to continuing consultations to resolve all disputes between the two countries, and if there is a need to raise the level of dialogue and it is agreed, we have no restrictions”.

In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia and Oman noted “the importance of cooperation and dealing in a serious and effective manner with the Iranian nuclear and missile issue with all its components in a way that contributes to realising regional and international security and stability, urging the need to commit to good neighbourly principles and respecting UN… resolutions, and sparing the region all activities that undermine stability”.  

Referring to Iran starting enriched uranium metal production, Saudi Arabia’s IAEA envoy asserted that “this approach negatively affects any negotiations related to the nuclear agreement as the knowledge gained from research and development work cannot be reversed”. He went on to contend that “the escalatory steps announced by Iran do not match with its statements about the peacefulness of its nuclear program and confirm its intentions and pursuit of the capabilities to produce a nuclear weapon”. Iran’s envoy in Vienna riposted that Saudi Arabia was not providing the IAEA “with even minimum necessary verification authorities”. 

Iran’s government spokesperson indicated that “some progress has been made” in talks with Saudi Arabia, adding that “in some cases, disputes may have complexities that take time to resolve”. He went to assert that “we are always ready to continue this dialogue seriously, relying on mutual goodwill and securing the interests and concerns of both sides”.

Saudi Arabia’s deputy defence minister met U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington and discussed, inter alia, “the U.S. commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”. He also spoke with a senior defence official about “efforts to end the war in Yemen and the shared U.S.-Saudi commitment to counter Iran’s destabilising activities”; the Pentagon official “noted the need to work together on addressing the proliferation and dangers of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles”. The next day the Saudi deputy defence minister met with Secretary of State Blinken and other senior U.S. diplomats.

The Saudi-led coalition reported disrupting what it described as “an imminent attack” the Huthis intended to launch off the Yemeni coast “using two booby-trapped boats”.

A cargo vessel travelling from Saudi Arabia to the UAE was reportedly “attacked in the Indian Ocean”; the Tyndall did not suffer major damage and unnamed Israeli officials assessed that the ship had been targeted by Iran.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia, which was followed by a similar incident the next day.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three ballistic missile and five explosive-laden drones launched by the Huthis towards the Kingdom. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had fired “five ballistic missiles and five drones on the National Guard camp in Najran, military positions at Abha International Airport and King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing four Huthi “explosive-laden drones” bound for Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on Ebrahim Raisi’s election as Iran’s president, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister remarked that “foreign policy in Iran is in any case run by the supreme leader and therefore we base our interactions and our approach to Iran on the reality on the ground, and that is what we will judge the new government on, regardless of who is in charge”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait.

Asked to comment on media reports about the U.S. withdrawing some military assets from the Middle East, a Pentagon spokesperson underscored that “we have a very robust presence in the Middle East region, a lot of capabilities there, tens of thousands of personnel, as well as systems and capabilities across the region at various facilities and bases, and the Secretary believes it’s important that that presence and those capabilities remain robust”, adding: “We have to look at the ability to sustain those capabilities and systems in whatever region they’re deployed. And it's not uncommon for us to move resources around”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing seventeen Huthi “armed drones” bound for multiple cities, including Najran and Khamis Mushait, over the course of one day.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi official claimed that they had successfully hit “military positions inside the Abha International Airport”.

Saudi defence officials confirmed that “a Huthi drone had landed on a school [in Asir] without causing any injuries”. The U.S. State Department “strongly condemn[ed]” the attack and urged “the Huthis to commit to a lasting ceasefire”. The following day, the Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “armed drone” bound for Khamis Mushait; a Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had struck “an important military site in Abha International Airport”.

The U.S. sanctioned “members of a smuggling network that helps fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force and the Huthis in Yemen” based on counterterrorism authorities. The Treasury Department asserted that “the Huthis have relied on support from the IRGC-QF to wage their campaign against the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Saudi-led Coalition”, and indicated that the blacklisted “network generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue from the sale of commodities, like Iranian petroleum”. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on “the Huthis to accept a ceasefire and for all parties to resume pollical talks”, adding: “The U.S. will continue to apply pressure to the Huthis, including through targeted sanctions, to advance those goals”. Washington also announced that it was “lifting sanctions on three former Government of Iran officials, and two companies”, explaining that “these delistings are a result of a verified change in behaviour or status on the part of the sanctioned parties”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a “Huthi drone fired in the direction of… Khamis Mushait”. The same day, its spokesperson announced that “no military operation has been carried out in the vicinity of Sanaa or any other Yemeni cities over the past period… with the aim of preparing the political ground for a peace process”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and stressed that “we can end the current miserable situation in Yemen… only through political dialogue and peaceful means”.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie asserted that “we are continuing to work with the Saudis on improvement of their integrated air and missile defence. That’s a very high priority for us, as it is with Saudi Arabia, because they are subjected to really an unceasing bombardment from the Huthis in Yemen through ballistic missiles, small drones and land-attack cruise missiles”. He further noted that “Saudi Arabia seeks a responsible political end to the conflict… Unfortunately, I do not believe the Huthis are ready to seize the moment, and they have an opportunity here to enter good-faith negotiations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to bring an end to this conflict”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported they had successfully targeted King Khalid airbase with a drone.

In a statement following a visit to the region by the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, the State Department asserted that “while there are numerous problematic actors inside of Yemen, the Huthis bear major responsibility for refusing to engage meaningfully on a ceasefire and to take steps to resolve a nearly seven-year conflict… Instead the Huthis continue a devastating offensive on Marib that is condemned by the international community and leaves the Huthis increasingly isolated”.

Iraqi Prime Minister al-Kadhimi stated that he was “proud that Iraq’s relations with Iran are at their best now”, adding: “We have established balanced relations with all neighbours. No exchanges were made at the expense of another country, especially with Iran”. He also expressed “hope that the Iranian-Arab, Iranian-Saudi and even Iranian relationships with other countries of the region would grow… Iraq endeavours to pave the way, if requested to do so, to get the views of the conflicted parties in the region closer”. “Everyone thinks that there is an opportunity for stability”, al-Kadhimi asserted.  

A military Huthi spokesperson reported targeting King Khalid airbase with a drone.

The foreign minister of Yemen’s internationally recognised government told the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran that “Iran has transformed Yemen into a platform to blackmail neighbouring countries and threaten international peace and security”, and contended that “all Huthis’ acts are decided in Tehran in order to achieve Iranian agenda and sabotage goals in the region”. He further urged “the U.S. to step up more pressure on the Iranian regime to stop supporting the Huthi militants and to stop arms smuggling against Huthi militias”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported thwarting “an imminent attack in the Red Sea” by the Huthis using “two remotely piloted booby-trapped boats”, in addition to downing “an explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait; a military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had successfully hit King Khalid airbase with multiple drones. An official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government subsequently referred to “the huge danger… posed by the Huthi militia against security and safety of trade ships and marine navigation”, which he in turn linked to “implementation of [the] Iranian agenda of spreading chaos and terrorism in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported foiling “an imminent attack launched by the Iran-backed Huthi militia in the south of the Red Sea”, in addition to destroying what it described as an “Iranian-made” marine mine planted by the Huthis.

The Saudi-led coalition reported foiling “an imminent attack launched by the Iran-backed Huthi militia in the south of the Red Sea”, in addition to destroying what it described as an “Iranian-made” marine mine planted by the Huthis.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported downing a drone belonging to the Saudi-led coalition by a surface-to-air missile, and added: “Yemen airspace is not for a walk”.

While visiting Saudi Arabia, CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie indicated that the Saudis “want reassurance that they’re going to be helped if they’re attacked by Iran, and they want help against the continuing attacks”. “Far more important [than the presence of U.S. troops] is sort of the broad spectrum of capabilities that we give them”, McKenzie noted, adding: “It’s not actually the types of equipment that are here, it’s maximising the use of the more than twenty Patriot batteries that you do have the interoperable with us, maximising those capabilities, so that if trouble occurred we can certainly come back in very quickly to help our Saudi friends”. “Our posture in the theater has prevented a state on state attack from Iran”, he asserted, going on to underscore that “we’re still going to have a presence here. It might not look exactly like the presence it was five or seven years ago where we get hundreds and thousands of forces here, but I think we’re going to play very smart games to leverage what we have”. McKenzie also noted that the Saudis were “under constant bombardment from Yemen, with a variety of ballistic missiles, cruise missile and small UAS they’re very concerned about. We want to help them with that”.

A Huthi military official reported downing a “fighter spy plane” belonging to the Saudi-led coalition using a surface-to-air missile.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince bin Farhan indicated that “we have initiated some exploratory talks [with Iran]. They are at a very early stage… If [the Iranians] can see that their interest is in a good relationship with their neighbours, I can be hopeful”. He went on to say that “Our understanding of Iran’s foreign policy is that it's set by the Supreme Leader. So we don’t think there will be a substantial change” after Iran’s June presidential election. “There may be a change in the representatives that portray that policy, but in the end, it’s what happens on the ground that matters, and that is driven by the Supreme Leader”, the foreign minister assessed.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie assessed that “the principal regional threat to the Gulf states is, of course, Iran… [and] among the Gulf states, there’s a great opportunity to continue to work together toward an integrated air and missile defence shield that will help them as they consider Iran in the future”. “There are lots of things we can do to help the Gulf states and not all of it involves the selling of military equipment”, he added. “A lot of these what we call tactics, techniques and procedures, are things we can work on together that will enhance our ability to defend against likely attacks from Iran or any other state”. McKenzie went on to underscore that “nothing Iran does keeps me up at night. We’re prepared to react to any eventuality that Iran might choose to have happen. I would urge them to continue the path of negotiation”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “eight explosive laden drones and three ballistic missiles” launched by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted an “Aramco facility, Najran Airport and sensitive targets” in Najran with ballistic missiles and drones.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “We have had connections with Saudi Arabia, and we hope these contacts would yield results through later cooperation… for the sake of regional peace and security, particularly Yemen, which is suffering huge humanitarian catastrophe”. The following day, President Rouhani told the Qatari Emir that “there is no military solution to the crisis in Yemen”, emphasised “the need for cooperation and efforts to resolve the crisis in the country” and voiced “hope that UN-led peaceful motives for peace in Yemen would yield desired results”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson confirmed that Iran-Saudi “talks focused on both bilateral and regional issues”, adding: “It is definitely in the interest of both countries and the region to de-escalate tensions. We hope to reach a meaningful understanding of bilateral relations and regional developments by changing the atmosphere… We will do our best in this regard”. He also “welcome[d] any initiative to finally resolve the Yemeni crisis”. The following day, a government spokesperson indicated that “in order to resolve the issues and misunderstandings around the crisis of Yemen and Syria, two rounds of negotiations have been held… at the level of special representatives”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson said that they had successfully targeted King Khalid airbase with a drone.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Linderking emphasised the need for “a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire and move to inclusive political talks” in Yemen. The U.S. State Department asserted that “there is a fair deal on the table that will bring immediate relief to Yemeni people. The Huthis passed up a major opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to make progress on this proposal by refusing to meet with UN Special Envoy Griffiths in Muscat—especially given the Republic of Yemen Government’s stated readiness to reach an agreement to end the conflict”.

A senior Saudi official confirmed discussions with Tehran, which he indicated “aim to explore ways to reduce tensions in the region”. “We hope they prove successful, but it is too early, and premature, to reach any definitive conclusions. Our evaluation will be based on verifiable deeds, and not proclamations”, he added. In related comments the previous day, a senior U.S. official alluded to “great discussions between Iran and some of their neighbours, and that’s something that the U.S., of course, welcomes”. The official also posited that “there needs to be those discussions… in terms of de-escalating the situation in the region and enhancing regional security, which does mean seeing changes in Iranian policy”.

Iraqi President Barham Salih confirmed that Baghdad had hosted talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia “more than once”. “It is ongoing, and it is important and it is significant, and for Iraq to be able to play that convening role between these regional actors is important”, he added.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a ballistic missile and two explosive drones” bound for Najran. A Huthi military spokesperson indicated that they had hit Najran Airport and King Khalid airbase with four drones and two ballistic missiles.

Asked about reports of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken posited that “if they’re talking, I think that’s generally a good thing… Does it lead to results? That’s another question. But talking, trying to take down tensions, trying to see if there’s a modus vivendi, trying to get countries to take actions on things they’re doing that you don’t like – that’s good, that’s positive”. “We have… when we’re acting at our best, a greater ability than any other country to mobilise others in positive, collective action”, Blinken added. “But if countries are talking directly together without us in the middle, that’s maybe even better”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson said that they had targeted King Khalid airbase with a drone.

The Saudi defence ministry reported downing a “hostile air target” bound for Jeddah.

Meeting with the Kuwaiti prime minister after visits to Qatar, Iraq and Oman, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “his tour of the region at a time when Vienna negotiations are underway indicates Iran’s special attention to regional issues and relations with neighbouring countries”. He also called for efforts to “further promote multilateral cooperation among regional countries”. “It is necessary that regional states rely on their own potential to secure constructive cooperation that would lead to further stability”, Zarif told his Kuwaiti counterpart.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported that they had successfully targeted King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait with a drone.

U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley reported a “good discussion… with our GCC partners regarding the status of JCPOA talks and regional security” as nuclear negotiations resumed in Vienna. The same day, senior Israeli and U.S. national security officials convened for discussions in Washington, and per a White House readout “discussed their serious concerns about advancements in Iran’s nuclear program in recent years”; the two sides also “agreed on the significant threat posed by Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region”, with the U.S. side expressing “President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself”. They also formed “an inter-agency working group to focus particular attention on the growing threat of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Precision Guided Missiles produced by Iran and provided to its proxies”.

The Saudi defence ministry confirmed that naval forces had intercepted “a bomb-laden unmanned surface vehicle (USV)” in the Red Sea. 

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remarked that “all what we ask for is to have a good and distinguished relationship with Iran… we want it [ie, Iran] to prosper and grow as we have Saudi interests in Iran, and they have Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia, which is to drive prosperity and growth”. He added: “The problem that we have lies with certain negative behaviours they have, whether in terms of their nuclear program, their support of illegal militias… or their ballistic missile program. We are working now without partners in the region and the world to find solutions for these problems”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently noted that “with constructive views and a dialogue-oriented approach, Iran and Saudi Arabia… can enter a new chapter of interaction and cooperation to achieve peace, stability and regional development by overcoming differences”.

Referring to the Abraham Accords, CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie opined that “in the long term, particularly vis-a-vis Iran, a common or collective security approach is going to be the best way to ensure their malign activities don’t become terribly harmful in the region”, adding: “What you would like to see is, particularly the nations in the Gulf states, be able to share a common threat picture against Iran. And the threat from Iran is not a ground maneuver. It’s not maritime particularly. It's a fires thing, it’s missiles, it’s ballistic missiles, it’s land attack cruise missiles which fly low and its UASs”. “In the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two nations that are directly across the Gulf from the threat that is Iran. There are things we can do and will continue to do to improve their ability to defend themselves, particularly in the missile and air defense domain”, McKenzie noted.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a Huthi explosive drone” bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “bomb-laden drones” bound for Jizan and Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had struck “important and sensitive locations at King Khalid air base… [and an] Aramco facility in Jizan” with drones.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthis spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a military site” at King Khalid airbase.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit an “important military site” at Abha International Airport with a drone.

U.S. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie remarked that “Iran provides weapons, parts and expertise to Huthi forces in Yemen for the purpose of attacking Saudi Arabia. Since January 2021, Iranian-aided Huthi forces have launched more than 150 ballistic missile, LACM [Land-Attack Cruise Missiles] and one-way UAS attacks against military, infrastructure and civilian targets in Saudi Arabia. These attacks have varied in scope and complexity, with UAS detection and interdiction particularly challenging not just for Saudi forces, but also for U.S. and Coalition forces supporting Saudi Arabia’s defence”. McKenzie added that “these small- and medium-sized UAS proliferating across the AOR present a new and complex threat to our forces and those of our partners and allies. For the first time since the Korean War, we are operating without complete air superiority”. He went on to emphasise that “U.S. assistance to the Kingdom focuses on providing information to Saudi Arabia’s armed forces to assist them in thwarting Huthi UAV, ballistic missile, and explosive boat attacks that contravene international law and undermine diplomatic efforts”.

The Saudi cabinet urged “Iran to engage in the ongoing [JCPOA] negotiations, avoid escalation and not expose the region’s security and stability to more tension”. It further emphasised “the need for the international community to reach an agreement with stronger and longer elements, while implementing monitoring and control measures, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and from developing the necessary capabilities for that”.

Commenting on media reports of Iran-Saudi talks in Baghdad, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson noted “conflicting quotes”, adding: “Iran has always welcomed dialogue with the Saudi kingdom and considered it in the interest of the peoples of the two countries as well as regional peace and stability. [Iran] will continue to think this way”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia inside Yemeni territory. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a sensitive military site at King Khalid Air Base” with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition announced downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “four bomb-laden UAVs and five ballistic missiles” launched by the Huthis towards Jizan; debris “caused a restricted fire that was contained without any losses to civilian life” at Jizan University. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted an Aramco facility and military sites. The U.S. State Department denounced “the Huthi complex attacks… which threatened civilian infrastructure”, while asserting that “the Huthis’ actions are prolonging the suffering of the Yemeni people and jeopardising… [diplomatic] efforts at a moment when there is a commitment from the international community to end the conflict now”. The U.S. further urged “all parties to agree to a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire and to engage in negotiations towards an inclusive political agreement under UN auspices”.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry urged “Iran to avoid escalation and not to subject the security and stability of the region to further tension, and to engage seriously in the current ongoing negotiations… towards Iran’s utilisation of its nuclear program for peaceful purposes”. It further underlined “the importance of the international community reaching an agreement with stronger and longer determinants, in a way that strengthens monitoring and control measures and ensures preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons or developing the necessary capabilities for that, and takes into account the deep concern of the countries of the region about the escalatory steps that Iran is taking to destabilise regional security and stability, including its nuclear program”. Relatedly, a senior Saudi diplomat maintained that Riyadh “is not interested in hindering or blocking the current [JCPOA] negotiations, and explained that “we want to make sure at a minimum that any financial resources made available to Iran via the nuclear deal are not used... to destabilise the region”. He further indicated that “we can begin by a nuclear deal and move on to another format that will discuss all these issues in a positive manner… Maybe such a process can begin by confidence-building measures, by reducing tensions, by reducing the arms race in the region and then build on these steps towards a better future for all of us”.

The GCC’s Secretary General wrote to P5+1 foreign ministers to affirm that JCPOA negotiations in Vienna “should not be limited to the Iranian nuclear program, but rather should include Iran’s destabilising behavior [and] ballistic missiles”. An Iranian diplomatic spokesperson responded: “These [GCC] irresponsible remarks are made in continuation of their anti-Iran remarks which are not meant to make a request for participation but seek to destroy the trend of technical talks in Vienna”.

Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, President Rouhani was quoted as contending that “allowing the Israeli regime a foothold in the Persian Gulf region is ‘dangerous’, given the fact that the regime is a ‘destabilising and provocative’ element”. In a separate conversation with the Qatari Emir, President Rouhani underlined “the need to resolve regional issues and crises, including the Yemeni crisis, through dialogue and negotiation”, adding: “the only successful way to ensure security, peace and stability in the region is resolving issues peacefully, responsibility and taking into account the collective interests, and we believe that militarism cannot resolve regional issues”.

The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2021 Annual Threat Assessment judged that “Iran will remain a destabilising force in Yemen, as Tehran’s support to the Huthis—including supplying ballistic and cruise missiles as well as unmanned systems—poses a threat to U.S. partners and interests, notably through strikes on Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a ballistic missile and six explosive-laden drones” launched by the Huthis towards Jizan, in addition to a drone bound for Khamis Mushait. The Huthis said they targeted two Aramco refineries and military sites across Saudi Arabia using multiple drones and ballistic missiles.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Jizan and “an armed drone” bound for Saudi Arabia. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had successfully targeted “warplane hangars in Jizan Airport”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had struck “a sensitive site at Abha International Airport with a drone”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia, and a second en route Jizan. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had “targeted King Khalid Airbase in Khamis Mushait” with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson said they had successfully targeted Saudi military sites with two drones.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince bin Farhan indicated that “we are confident the international community will work hard to ensure that the deficiencies in the [JCPOA] are eventually addressed and they will also address the regional instability that is caused by Iran’s activities”. He also expressed readiness for dialogue “if Iran changes its behaviour”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently contended that “it is deplorable that Riyadh’s view is still focused on the capitals outside the region… We advise Saudi Arabia to join the course of intra-regional negotiations and distance itself from the path of rebellion”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported thwarting “an imminent Huthi attack” by “destroying an explosive-laden boat in a southern part of the Red Sea”.

A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had conducted a successful operation against “sensitive and important sites in Riyadh” using four drones. The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a pair of Huthi drones bound for Khamis Mushait.

Asked to comment on media reports on the U.S. “removing some military capabilities” from Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon spokesperson asserted that “we continue to support the defence of Saudi Arabia in partnership with the Saudi military, including their abilities to counter inbound threats. And of course, we call on the Houthis to cease these attacks and to work to achieve a political solution… I am not going to get into specific capabilities”. He further indicated that “Iran still poses a threat to its neighbours in the region and to our national security interests in the region. Their ballistic missile program still exists and - and has improved. Their continued support for terrorist groups in the region still is a problem and has, in many ways, accelerated”.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Kadhimi asserted that “we don’t accept or allow any aggression or attack on the kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territories”, adding: “There were not any attacks from Iraq” against Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi cabinet condemned Huthi strikes against Saudi Arabia as a “continuation of the Iranian guardianship over the political and military decision of the militias in order to achieve its subversive agenda to spread chaos and undermine regional and international security”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi drones bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted two Huthi “explosive-laden boats” to be used in what it described as an “imminent” attack. The coalition also reported downing “three armed drones launched towards southern Saudi Arabia, including the city of Khamis Mushait”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at civilian targets in Najran, in addition to “a drone fired at the city of Khamis Mushait”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted multiple Saudi energy and military sites using “eighteen drones and eight ballistic missiles”. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry confirmed that “an attack with a projectile was made on the petroleum products distribution terminal in Jizan. The attack resulted in a fire in one of the terminal’s tanks”. The Saudi defence ministry subsequently indicated that it had downed eight Huthi UAVs, and that three ballistic missiles had been launched toward Saudi Arabia, “one of which fell short… and the remaining fell in two uninhabited areas”. “These violations confirm the rejection of the terrorist militia of all political efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis, specifically following the announcement of the Kingdom’s initiative to end the crisis”, a spokesperson indicated. “They as well reaffirm Iran’s control over the militia’s political and military decisions, through which it achieves its vandalistic agenda to spread chaos and undermine regional and international security”. The U.S. said it “join[ed] the international community in strongly condemning the attacks”, asserting that “the actions by the Huthis are a clear provocation meant to perpetuate the conflict”.

Discussing a Saudi-proposed ceasefire plan to end the Yemen war, the Saudi UN envoy remarked that “the ball is in the Huthis’ court… They need to come clean and not give priority to the interests of outside parties, but rather to the interest of the Yemeni people. That’s where the ball lies and that’s where we are waiting to see if we have a partner for peace or not”.

Meeting with China’s foreign minister, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) underscored that “GCC countries [need] to take part in any negotiations on Iran and its nuclear program”, adding that these discussions “should include Tehran’s development of ballistic missiles and drones, the security and safety of shipping and its destabilizing behaviour in the region”.

Marking the sixth anniversary of the Yemen war, Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that “the Yemen crisis has no military solution… Iran supports any peace plan focused on ending the aggression, declaring a nationwide ceasefire, ending the occupation, lifting the economic siege, starting the political dialogue and finally letting Yemenis take the helm of shaping their political future free from any foreign interference”. The following day, Iran’s ambassador to Sanaa contended that “the [22 March] Saudi initiative for Yemen is a project of permanent war; it will keep up occupation and war crimes there, and will not put an end to the war”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport using a drone; the Huthis also claimed to have downed a coalition drone.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister unveiled “an initiative to end the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political resolution”, noting that it “gives the Huthis an opportunity to uphold the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people… and the independence of their homeland over the Iranian regime’s expansionary ambitions in Yemen and the region”. The U.S. hailed “Saudi Arabia and Republic of Yemen Government’s commitment to a ceasefire and political process in Yemen”, urging “all parties to commit seriously to a ceasefire immediately and engage in negotiations under the auspices of the UN”. The same day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart and underscored the U.S.’s “commitment to supporting the defence of Saudi Arabia and strongly condemned recent attacks against Saudi territory from Iranian-aligned groups in the region”. According to the State Department, the two officials underscored “their close cooperation to support the efforts… to end the conflict in Yemen, starting with the need for all parties to commit to a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid”.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei posited that the Saudis “can neither stay nor leave [Yemen]… Both ways are to their detriment”. He further said: “You Americans knew what a disaster you were creating for the Saudis. If you knew it and you did it anyway, how wretched are your allies because you treat them this way. And if you did not know it, then again how wretched are your allies for trusting you and for planning with you who are not familiar with regional issues”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted Aramco facilities in Riyadh with six drones. The Saudi oil ministry confirmed that “the Riyadh oil refinery was attacked by drones, resulting in a fire that has been brought under control. The attack did not result in any injury or death nor was the supply of oil or its derivatives affected”. A spokesperson further urged “all nations… to stand together against such acts of terrorism and sabotage, and to stop all groups carrying out or supporting these attacks”.

A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a military target” at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport using a drone.

The UN Security Council deplored “the cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia and expressed concern about military developments elsewhere in Yemen”. The Council also emphasised “the need for de-escalation by all, including an immediate end to the Huthi escalation in Marib”, and called on “all parties to come together and work with the UN Special Envoy to negotiate, without preconditions, a nationwide ceasefire and a Yemeni-led and owned, inclusive, political settlement”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “we are prepared to talk to our neighbours in the region. The UN can provide an umbrella under UNSC Resolution 598, which gives our neighbours in the southern Persian Gulf the assurance that there will be an international umbrella”. “Some of our neighbours in the Persian Gulf have always tried to buy security through proxies”, he argued. “Now they want Netanyahu to be their proxy... What Netanyahu will do is to bring the war to their territory”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) denounced the 7 March drone attack on a Saudi port and missile strike on an Aramco facility in Dhahran. They also condemned “continuous attacks” by the Huthis, “affirming the GCC’s stand by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in taking all necessary and deterrent measures against these provocative acts”. The six Gulf countries urged “the international community to bear its responsibility toward these terrorist sabotage acts and the parties supporting them”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently contended that the “communique… lacks a realistic understating of surrounding developments and is in line with political pressure from the Saudi regime on the state members of the council”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had successfully targeted Khalid Air Base with drones; the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a UAV bound for Khamis Mushait

The Saudi cabinet underscored “the importance of extending weapons embargo on Iran as it is continuing to provide the terrorist Huthi militias with advanced weapons and drones”, while voicing “support for the international efforts aimed at ensuring that the Iranian regime does not develop a nuclear weapons system and ballistic missiles, making the Arab Gulf region free of all weapons of mass destruction, and respects the independence and sovereignty of countries and not to interfere in its internal affairs”. The following day, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) asserted that “any future negotiations with Iran must include discussions on the Iranian regime’s ballistic missiles and nuclear program”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid Air Base with drones. The same day, the coalition confirmed that two ballistic missiles had fallen in unpopulated parts of southern Saudi Arabia. A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “we remain deeply concerned by the frequency of these attacks… these are not actions of a group who say that they want peace”. She further urged “all parties to seriously commit to a ceasefire and engage in negotiations”, adding: “This is a time for… the Huthis to come to the table and to commit to peace and diplomacy”.

In a joint statement with the E3 and Italy, the U.S. “condemn[ed] the sustained Huthi offensive on the Yemeni city of Marib and the major escalation of attacks the Huthis have conducted and claimed against Saudi Arabia”. The four governments went on to “urge the Huthis to seize this opportunity for peace and end the ongoing escalation”, and underscored their “firm commitment to the security and integrity of Saudi territory”. In subsequent remarks, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen said that “we now have a sound plan for a nationwide ceasefire… That plan has been before the Houthi leadership for a number of days”. “It appears that the Houthis are prioritising a military campaign to take Marib... over suspending the war and moving relief to the Yemeni people”, he added.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister asserted that “efforts must be combined to stop the sources of the continuation of the conflict [in Yemen], the most important of which is Iran, as it supplies the Huthi militia with advanced weapons… this is a violation of UN resolutions and confirms that the arms embargo on Iran must be extended”.

The Saudi energy ministry confirmed a drone attack against “one of the petroleum tank farms at the Ras Tanura Port in the Eastern Region”, and also reported that “shrapnel from a ballistic missile fell near Saudi Aramco’s residential area in the city of Dhahran”; no casualties were reported in either incident, which a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition asserted had been carried out using Iranian-supplied weapons. A military Huthi official claimed they had targeted multiple Saudi cities and military sites using fourteen drones and eight ballistic missiles. The U.S. said it was “alarmed by the frequency of Huthi attacks... escalating attacks like these are not the actions of a group that is serious about peace”. “We will look for ways to improve support for Saudi Arabia's ability to defend its territory against threats”, a White House spokesperson indicated. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing that two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Khamis Mushait and Jizan. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed successful strikes against “important and sensitive targets at King Khalid airbase”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing six Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia; debris caused two civilian injuries. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that their drones had successfully targeted King Khalid Air Base and Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi ballistic missiles bound for Jizan, and one “bomb-laden UAV” aimed at Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully struck a Saudi Aramco facility in Jeddah with a missile, in addition to targeting the King Khalid base by drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. blacklisted two senior Huthi officials for having “used their positions… to procure weapons from Iran and to oversee attacks threatening civilians and maritime infrastructure”. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken contended that “Iran’s involvement in Yemen fans the flames of the conflict, threatening greater escalation, miscalculation and regional instability. Ansar Allah [ie, the Huthis] uses Iranian weapons, intelligence, training and support to conduct attacks threatening civilian targets and infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia”. Blinken went on to assert that “we will ensure Saudi Arabia and our regional partners have the tools they need to defend themselves, including against threats emanating from Yemen that are carried out with weapons and support from Iran. At the same time, the U.S. is working diligently at senior levels alongside the United Nations and others to bring an end to this conflict”.  

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, a Saudi spokesperson confirmed “the fall of a [Huthi] military projectile launched… from inside Yemen towards one of the border villages in Jizan Region”, injuring five and causing material damage.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and half a dozen “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Jizan and Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson, citing Saudi Arabia’s “ongoing escalating aggression and siege”, reported the launching of “a Zolfaghar ballistic missile and fifteen drones”. He further warned that “our retaliatory attacks are continuing” and urged Saudi civilians “to stay away from all military sites and airports or that may be used for military purposes”. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken deplored the strikes and urged “the Huthis to end these egregious attacks and engage constructively with” the UN and U.S. special envoys. He further asserted that “the U.S. remains committed to its longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a ballistic missile and two “bomb-laden UAV”s launched by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia.

President Biden spoke with Saudi King Salman on “regional security, including the renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations and the U.S. to end the war in Yemen, and the U.S. commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”. 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Saudi counterpart, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Austin “condemned the recent Huthi cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed his commitment to assisting Saudi Arabia in the defence of its borders”. He also “discussed the importance of ending the war and thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a political settlement”. Austin went on to highlight “Saudi Arabia’s role as a pillar of the regional security architecture”, as well as the “U.S. and Saudi shared commitment to countering Iran’s destabilising activities and defeating violent extremist organisations in the region”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi bomb-laden UAVs, one of which it said was intended for Khamis Mushait; a similar incident was again reported the following day.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted Jeddah and Abha airports using drones.

Meeting with the Qatari foreign minister in Tehran, President Rouhani asserted that “we remain committed to the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) initiative and believe that peace and stability in the region will not be achieved except through cooperation and dialogue between the countries of the region, and it is the countries of the region that must decide for their own”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” which it said were intended for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that their drones had “targeted Saudi Abha International Airport… for the fourth consecutive day”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for “civilian objects in Abha International Airport”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had “hit an important target” at the airport.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that “effective 16 February, I am revoking the designations of Ansarullah, sometimes referred to as the Huthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)… and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)”. “This decision is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen”, he added. “The U.S. remains clear-eyed about Ansarullah’s malign actions and aggression”. Blinken further underlined that “we remain committed to helping U.S. partners in the Gulf defend themselves, including against threats arising from Yemen, many of which are carried out with the support of Iran. The U.S. will redouble its efforts, alongside the United Nations and others, to end the war itself”. Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy remarked that “we will still deal with the Huthi militia as a terrorist organisation and address its threats with military action”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they “had hit Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and King Khalid Air Base with drones”. This was not confirmed by the Saudi-led coalition, which in turn reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, the Huthis reported intercepting a coalition drone in Marib province.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted King Khalid air base using “a new undisclosed ballistic missile”.

A U.S. military spokesperson indicated that “Saudi Arabia is a pillar of regional security architecture, and they’re a core stakeholder in the threat against terrorism and countering Iran’s destabilising activities… Nothing has changed with our policy and commitment to helping Saudi Arabia defend its borders”.

A Huthi military spokesperson announced that they had “targeted… warplanes hangars at Saudi Abha International Airport” using four drones. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed an attack and damage to a civilian aircraft, while reporting the downing of two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia. The U.S. State Department responded to the incident by saying that “Huthi leaders will find themselves sorely mistaken if they think this administration is going to let up the pressure… They will come under significant pressure”. The following day, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken “condemned the Huthi attacks” and spoke with his Saudi counterpart about “joint efforts to bolster Saudi defences against attacks on the Kingdom”. The two sides also discussed “diplomatic outreach to find a negotiated political settlement to the war in Yemen”.

The Saudi cabinet urged “the international community to shoulder its responsibilities against the Iranian regime[’s] aggressive practices that pose a threat to the international peace and security and its ongoing transgressions of the international laws… as they threaten the security and stability of Arab countries through interference in their internal affairs and backing armed militias”. It further underlined “the significance of considering countries most affected by the Iranian threats as principal party in any international negotiations over its nuclear program and its security-threatening activities in the region”.

President Rouhani underlined that “Iran is ready to talk with all countries in the region and its neighbours, especially the Persian Gulf littoral countries, from Iraq to the six southern countries in accordance with UNSC Resolution 598, and settle regional problems and issues”. The following day, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reaffirmed “readiness for engagement and cooperation towards shared goals and objectives with our neighbours”, while indicating: “Our consistent aim in all our endeavors has been to build a more stable, peaceful and prosperous region”. “I hope that our neighbours will have learned that they cannot bank on outsiders to provide them with security. We need to rely on each other as geography promises that we will remain neighbours forever”, he added.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister urged “the international community to put an end to Iran’s violations and threats to the region”, and contended that “the countries most affected by Iran’s threats must be a party to any future agreement”. “Iranian regime’s support for militias across the region as well as its nuclear activities and ballistic missiles pose a threat to the security and stability of Arab countries and the region”, he added.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing multiple Huthi “bomb-laden UAV[s]” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged “the Huthis to immediately cease attacks impacting civilian areas inside Saudi Arabia and to halt any new military offensives inside Yemen”. He further called on them “to refrain from destabilising actions and demonstrate their commitment to constructively engage in UN Special Envoy Griffiths’ efforts to achieve peace”.

A U.S. State Department official confirmed that the administration had “formally notified Congress of the Secretary’s intent to revoke” Huthi terrorism designations. “This decision has nothing to do with our view of the Huthis and their reprehensible conduct, including attacks against civilians and the kidnapping of American citizens”, the official added. “We are committed to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory against further such attacks. Our action is due entirely to the humanitarian consequences”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken conferred with his Saudi counterpart on “regional security, counterterrorism and cooperation to deter and defend against attacks on the Kingdom”. Blinken also raised “several key priorities of the new administration including elevating human rights issues and ending the war in Yemen”.

President Joe Biden announced that “we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen including relevant arms sales… At the same time, Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks and UAV strikes and other threats from Iranian supplied forces in multiple countries. We are going to continue to help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity and its people”. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan separately noted that the U.S. decision “does not extend to actions against AQAP… it extends to the types of offensive operations that have perpetuated a civil war in Yemen that has led to a humanitarian crisis”. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince bin Farhan hailed “the U.S.’s commitment… to cooperate with the Kingdom in defending its security and territory”, adding: “We look forward to working with [the newly-appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen] Tim Lenderking to achieve our joint goal of a comprehensive political resolution in Yemen as part of our shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV in Yemeni airspace”, which was bound for Saudi Arabia.

Addressing Iran’s neighbours, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “we have an opportunity to rethink regional security”, adding: “We know that security cannot be bought or established by stockpiling weapons. The only way to establish security and peace is extensive cooperation between the countries of the region, and Iran has always stated its readiness to promote cooperation”.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted that “the Huthis committed an act of significant act of aggression in taking over Sanaa… committing acts of aggression against our partner, Saudi Arabia, committing human rights abuses and other atrocities, creating an environment in which we’ve seen extremist groups fill some of the vacuums that were created”. He also noted that “we’ve seen a campaign led by Saudi Arabia that has also contributed to what is by many estimates the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today... it’s vitally important, even in the midst of this crisis, that we do everything we can to get humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen who are in desperate need”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince bin Farhan indicated that discussions between Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration addressing Iran and the JCPOA “will be around reaching a solid and strong agreement that takes into account Iran’s failure to comply... with strong monitoring factors to ensure the implementation of the agreement”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “hostile air target going toward Riyadh”. A Huthi military spokesperson denied any involvement in the incident. The U.S. State Department denounced the attack, noting that “it appears to have been an attempt to target civilians”. It further maintained: “As we work to de-escalate tensions in the region through principled diplomacy, including by bringing an end to the war in Yemen, we will also help our partner Saudi Arabia defend against attacks on its territory and hold those who attempt to undermine stability to account”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive-laden” boat, and separately downing an armed drone bound for Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif maintained that Iran would “respond positively to any initiative for regional dialogue advanced in good faith”. He also contended that “neither the U.S. nor its European allies have the prerogative to lead or sponsor future talks. Rather, the Persian Gulf region needs an inclusive regional mechanism to encourage diplomacy and cooperation and to lower the risk of miscalculation and conflict”. He further referred to Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) proposal and said: “The invitation is still on the table”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif hailed the Qatari foreign minister’s “call for inclusive dialogue” between Iran and GCC states, adding: “the solution to our challenges lies in collaboration to jointly form a ‘strong region’: peaceful, stable, prosperous and free from global or regional hegemony”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia.

During a visit to Moscow, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Bin Farhan stressed “the importance of confronting the continuous Iranian interference and the successive attacks on the security and stability of the region”. He also accused Iranian allies in Syria and Yemen of “obstructing peace efforts”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his “intent to designate Ansarallah – sometimes referred to as the Huthis – as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO)… and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity”. “I also intend to designate three of Ansarallah’s leaders… as SDGTs”, he added. Describing the Huthis as “a deadly Iran-backed militia group”, Pompeo maintained that “the designations are intended to hold Ansarallah accountable for its terrorist acts… [and] advance efforts to achieve a peaceful, sovereign and united Yemen that is both free from Iranian interference and at peace with its neighbours”. He further urged Iran “to stop smuggling weapons to Ansarallah in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and to stop enabling Ansarallah’s aggressive acts against Yemen and towards its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia”. Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision, while Iran called it an impediment to “a political solution and peace talks”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported downing a Saudi- drone over Yemeni airspace.

The GCC Supreme Council denounced “the Iranian existence in the Syrian territories and Iran’s interference in the Syrian affairs, demanding to expel all Iranian forces, Hizbollah militias and all sectarian militias that Iran recruited to work in Syria”.

The GCC Supreme Council issued a communique condemning various aspects of Iran’s regional behaviour, missile program and nuclear activities. The Council also highlighted, inter alia, “the importance of building confidence between the GCC and Iran” and contended that “any negotiation process with Iran should include Iran’s destabilising behavior in the region, the Iranian missile program, including ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, and the Iranian nuclear program, stressing the need for the GCC member states to participate in future international negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson deplored “the baseless accusations” and said: “The regional policy pursued by Saudi Arabia and its destructive approach towards Iran and other countries have turned the region into a weapons depot for Western companies which has led to more foreign interference in the region. “Iran does not tolerate any interference in its nuclear and missile program and matters related to its military and defence policies”, he added.

Referring to the “Al-Ula Declaration”, based on which Qatar and four Arab states reestablished diplomatic ties, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif hailed Qatar “for the success of its brave resistance to pressure and extortion” and addressed “our other Arab neighbours” by saying: “Iran is neither an enemy nor threat. Enough scapegoating – especially with your reckless patron [ie, President Trump] on his way out”. “[It’s] time to take our offer for a strong region”, he added. The same day, Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman told the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit that “we are in utmost need to unite our efforts to advance our region and confront the challenges that surround us, particularly the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, its destructive sabotage projects as well as its terrorist and sectarian activities”. He further urged “the international community to work seriously in order to stop these programs and projects that threaten regional and international peace and security”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson remarked that “Saudi Arabia is an important country in the region. If the rulers of Al-Saud return from their wrong path, it is possible to restore the good relations of the past”. Relatedly, Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait said with respect to Iran-Saudi relations that “within the framework of joint cooperation, bilateral problems and regional crises can be resolved… we have repeatedly expressed our readiness to discuss the allegations and all disputed issues at the negotiating table”.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress that it had approved “a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $290 million”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that an explosion it said was caused by a Huthi naval mine had “hit a commercial cargo ship in the southern Red Sea”, adding that such activities by the Huthis “in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait has been increasing… [posing] a serious threat to international shipping”. The following day, the coalition announced that the Huthis had launched a ballistic missile which “fell short in Yemeni territory”.

Bahrain’s U.S. ambassador, commenting on a potential U.S. return to the JCPOA, maintained that “it is important for us to be a part of the conversation, because it is us [in the region] who have a front row seat to any development, and it is us who will have to endure all the consequences”. Relatedly, Israel’s envoy in Washington argued that “if you go back to JCPOA 1.0 in hopes that you will negotiate and get 2.0 it’s never going to happen. You’re giving up all your leverage”. The UAE’s ambassador also maintained that “America should maintain strong relations with all its partners in Europe and the Middle East and show up with both groups at the negotiating table”. Iran’s UN mission subsequently emphasised that Tehran “will not renegotiate an accord already agreed to”, while asserting: “We are ready to negotiate regional issues, but only with neighbours and countries in the region… Iran does not believe that there is any need for foreign powers’ presence at that dialogue”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported the downing of a Saudi drone.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “it had discovered and destroyed a marine mine planted by the Huthi militia in the southern Red Sea”, claiming that “the mine… was Iranian-made”. The coalition also reported that three Huthi projectiles had landed in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a ballistic missile launched by the Huthis had landed in Yemeni territory.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, met with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh to discuss “the current security environment throughout the Middle East”. “The U.S. and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing partnership and are committed to peace and security in the Middle East region”, a U.S. readout noted.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “explosives-laden drone” heading toward Saudi Arabia. The following day, the coalition reported that a Huthi “military projectile” had landed inside Jizan.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conferred with his Saudi counterpart on, inter alia, “the efforts to overcome divisions between Gulf countries needed to deter Iran’s aggressive acts in the region and the mutual determination to achieve an inclusive political solution to the conflict in Yemen”. 

A shipping company reported that one of its Singapore-flagged tankers, the BW Rhine, had “been hit from an external source whilst discharging at Jeddah”. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry indicated that “an explosive-laden boat” had been used in the incident, and a spokesperson asserted that “these acts of terrorism and vandalism, directed against vital installations, go beyond the Kingdom and its vital facilities to the security of energy supplies to the world and global economy”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently condemned “any destructive action against maritime security and freedom of international trade” and “expressed hope that countries in the region would increase their efforts to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, combating pirates and countering the trade in banned substances”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed… a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Elliott Abrams, posited that “no one has benefited from the rift in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) except Iran… If Qatari planes cannot overfly Saudi Arabia and instead have to overfly Iran on international flights, every single one of those brings a big fee to Iran, and we know what they do with any revenue they have. A good decent amount goes to their military and then to the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]”. “We have thought, now under two administrations, that ending that rift would be a desirable thing”, he added. “We would like to see more unity among the GCC countries, recognising and pushing back against any forms of Iranian conduct”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted and destroyed “an attempt by the terrorist Huthi militia to carry out a hostile, terrorist act in Southern Red Sea using two bomb-laden Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “an explosive-laden drone launched towards the kingdom by Yemen’s Huthi group”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan reiterated that “what we expect is that we are fully consulted, that we and our regional friends are fully consulted vis-a-vis the negotiations with Iran”, adding that “we’ve seen as a result of the after-effects of the JCPOA that not involving regional countries results in a build-up of mistrust and neglect of the issues of real concern and of real effect on regional security”. He further opined that “one may look to a JCPOA-plus-plus… because reviving the JCPOA as it exists now will only bring us to the point where we were, which is a deficient agreement that doesn’t address the full issues”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently asserted with reference to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain that “these countries…  should know their limits and speak to that extent”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a “bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan insisted that “the main source of that instability is Iran and Iran’s continuing activity in the region and its continuing focus on exporting its revolution on making sure that it continues to be able to manipulate governments in various countries”. He further noted that “we will be open to real dialogue in the future that addresses significant issues of concern”, while asserting that with Iran’s “attempts to impose its will by force on other states, we are not going to have progress”.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the State Department’s approval of “a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… to include technical assistance and advisory support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) for an additional five years… for an estimated cost of $350 million”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a ballistic missile launched by the Huthis had landed inside Yemen. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that the “missile hit accurately the aggression’s joint operations room [in Marib governorate]… [and] killed eight Saudi soldiers and commanders”. 

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif contended that U.S. Secretary of State Mike “Pompeo’s hurried trips to the region, the trilateral meeting in Saudi Arabia and Netanyahu’s statements all point to this conspiracy that unfortunately emerged in Friday’s [27 November] cowardly terrorist act and the martyrdom of one of the country’s top executives”. A senior Saudi official subsequently maintained that “Zarif is desperate to blame the Kingdom for anything negative that happens in Iran… It is not the policy of Saudi Arabia to engage in assassinations; unlike Iran, which has done so since the Khomeini Revolution in 1979”. Relatedly, Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy maintained that “the loss of a Muslim scientist is a loss to the entire Muslim Umma (world)”, emphasising that “emotional and spontaneous reactions won't bring positive outcomes”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed two mines laid by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi militia in the south of the Red Sea”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “it had destroyed an explosives-laden boat and foiled [an] attack in the southern Red Sea”; the owners of the tanker MT Agrari indicated the “vessel was attacked by an unknown source… [and] suffered a breach”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “it had destroyed five naval mines planted by the Iranian-backed Huthi militia in the southern Red Sea. The naval mines were Iranian-made”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported that a Huthi missile had successfully “targeted Aramco's distribution station in the Saudi city of Jeddah”, asserting that “this operation comes in response to the continued siege and aggression against Yemen”. He further “advised citizens and foreign companies operating in Saudi Arabia to stay away from vital installations”. The Saudi Ministry of Energy subsequently confirmed that “an explosion took place as a result of a terrorist attack by a projectile, causing a fire in the fuel tank at the petroleum products distribution terminal in the north of Jeddah”. The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson asserted that the Huthis had “been positively identified as the culprits, which did not target the Kingdom’s national assets but the core of global economy and supply routes, as well as the security of global energy”. The following day, the Saudi ambassador to the UN called on the Security Council to “shoulder its responsibility and to stop the threat of this militia to the global energy security, [to] the UN political process in Yemen and to regional security”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed, inter alia, “the need for Gulf unity to counter Iran’s aggressive behaviour in the region and the need to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Yemen”. The following day, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan denied media reports regarding a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia to meet with the U.S. and Saudi sides.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan remarked with respect to Iran: “I like to call what we see in future as JCPOA++ - something that addresses the nuclear program, which is critically important of course, but also that addresses the regional malign activity including the arming of militias… and of course its ballistic missile programs and other arms programs”. “The issue with Iran is the fact that it continues to believe in imposing its will in the region on exporting its revolution to its neighbours and beyond, and we need to address that”, he argued. In related remarks, Saudi Arabia’s UN ambassador asserted that “the Iran nuclear deal has proven its failure to the entire world. And I don’t think that anybody is going to be naïve enough to go back to the same deal”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced the interception of a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia.

A senior Saudi official was cited as saying that Riyadh “reserves the right to arm itself with nuclear weapons if regional rival Iran cannot be stopped from making one”. “Saudi Arabia has made it very clear, that it will do everything it can to protect its people and to protect its territories”, he said, while arguing that “the Iranians have only responded to pressure”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing multiple Huthi “explosive-laden drones launched towards Saudi Arabia”.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced the arrest of the leader of ASMLA (Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahwaz), what it described as a “terrorist group… directly supported by the Saudi intelligence services and the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] [that] has been managing terrorist operations in Iran”. On 18 November, the ministry released what it described as “some documents and correspondence of the ASMLA with the Saudi intelligence agencies”.

A Huthi military spokesman urged “all foreign companies operating in Saudi Arabia, as well as our brothers inside Hijaz and Najd residents in all Saudi regions, to stay away from vital military and economic installations from being targeted by the Yemeni army”. The same day, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had destroyed “two bomb-laden Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)” and intercepted “a bomb-laden UAV” all launched by the Huthis. A Saudi energy official subsequently confirmed that the former operation “occurred in close proximity to a floating offloading platform that belongs to the Jizan oil products terminal [and] resulted in a limited fire on the platform’s floating hoses”. 

On a visit to Riyadh, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Elliott Abrams, “met with Saudi and Yemeni government officials to discuss joint efforts to counter Iran’s aggressive and malign policies in the region, emphasising that Iran’s destabilising actions put U.S. partners and the entire region at risk”. According to the State Department, Abrams “noted that Iran’s provision of lethal aid to the Huthis prolongs the conflict in Yemen and intensifies its humanitarian crisis, and he condemned indiscriminate Huthi attacks against Saudi cities and civilian infrastructure”.

Saudi King Salman remarked that “the Kingdom affirms the danger of the regional project by the Iranian regime, and we reject its interference in internal affairs [of other counties] and its support for terrorism, extremism and sectarianism”. He further urged “the international community to take a strong position against Iran to ensure it does not obtain weapons of mass destruction and develop its ballistic missile project”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “two explosive-laden drones” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia. 

With Joe Biden projected as winner of the U.S. 2020 presidential election, President Rouhani remarked that “now is the time for the next administration of the U.S. to make up for past mistakes and return to the path of adherence to international obligations and respecting global regulations… Iran has always adhered to its obligations if all other parties do so in a responsible manner, and we consider constructive interaction with the world as our strategy”. Rouhani also urged “the promotion of security and development in the region in the shadow of cooperation and synergy between Iran and its neighbours, and to follow the path of stability and economic growth of the country”. Relatedly, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted: “A sincere message to our neighbours: Trump’s gone in 70 days but we’ll remain here forever. Betting on outsiders to provide security is never a good gamble. We extend our hand to our neighbours for dialog to resolve differences”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia.

A senior Saudi official described the “causes of tension in the region” as “the Iranian regime’s violations of international treaties and conventions as well as its insistence on interfering in the internal affairs of the countries in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed six “bomb-laden UAVs” towards Saudi Arabia and two ballistic missiles bound for Jizan and Najran all launched by the Huthis. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh issued an alert indicating that it was “tracking reports of possible missiles or drones that may be headed toward Riyadh”, which was subsequently revised to recommend “increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to terrorism and the threat of missile and drone attacks on civilian targets”. The following day, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced the attacks and argued that “this irresponsible escalation coincides with the Houthis’ declared desire to strengthen their ties with Iran… the Houthis are not serious about seeking a political solution in order to bring peace to Yemen”. Pompeo further urged “Iran to stop smuggling weapons to the Huthis in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and to stop enabling the Huthis’ aggressive acts against Yemen and towards its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson reported that “the operation targeted an important target at Abha International Airport”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed multiple “bomb-laden UAV[s]” launched by the Huthis towards the Kingdom. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that Huthi drones had “hit accurately an important military target” at Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted multiple “bomb-laden UAV[s]” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia over consecutive days. A Huthi military spokesperson reported that Huthi drones had been used against “Jizan and Abha airports and Khamis Mushait military base”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed two Huthi launched “bomb-laden UAV[s]” targeting Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that the Huthis had “launched a ballistic missile from Sanaa governorate… using civilian objects as a launch site”. “The missile fell short” and landed in Saada governorate, the report added.

The Saudi-led coalition and the Huthis concluded a two-day prisoner swap releasing more than 1000 individuals as part of a UN-brokered deal.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia held a strategic dialogue and reiterated “bilateral commitments to counter Iran’s threats to regional security and prosperity, seek a political solution to end the conflict in Yemen and enhance maritime and border security”. Speaking alongside his Saudi counterpart, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that “it’s no secret that Iran’s destabilising behaviour threatens Saudi Arabia’s security and disrupts global commerce. That’s clear from Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities in the fall of last year, and the frequent, ongoing Huthi bombardment of Saudi territory using rockets, drones and other lethal technology supplied by the regime in Tehran”. In separate remarks, Pompeo underscored that “we are doing everything we can to make sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fewer resources with which to underwrite the Huthis… Our pressure campaign in Iran has been enormously successful at denying them the resources for terror”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien confirmed the release of two “U.S. citizens… from Huthi custody in Yemen”; in parallel, Omani state media and Huthi officials reported that more than 200 Huthis had been returned to Saana.

Following a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan contended that “the Iranian regime continues to provide financial and material support to terrorist groups, including in Yemen where the Huthis have launched more than 300 Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones towards the Kingdom. Their development of their nuclear program, ballistic missiles and their malign activities represent a grave danger to the region and the world”.  He further asserted that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. “are both committed to counter and deter Iran’s destabilising behaviour”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “destroyed a ballistic missile” the Huthis “had been planning to launch towards Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed two Huthi-launched “bomb-laden UAV[s]” towards Saudi Arabia; another was intercepted the following day.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV in Yemeni airspace”, intended to “target civilians and civilian objects in the Kingdom”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV… target[ing] civilians and civilian objects in Najran”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had thwarted an “imminent terrorist attack” by “a remotely-controlled explosive-laden Houthi boat” close to a Yemeni port.

Saudi security forces announced that they had “thwarted a terrorist cell… whose elements received a military and field training on how to make explosives, at the Revolutionary Guard’s [IRGC] sites in Iran”. According to the Presidency of State Security, ten arrests were made and various weapons confiscated. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson insisted that “Saudi rulers have fabricated a false case against Iran as a ploy to deflect public attention in order to cover up their own failed moves… We recommend Saudi Arabia opt for the path of honesty and wisdom rather than playing out worthless and dictated scenarios”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “in Yemeni airspace a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The UN announced that “delegates representing the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah have agreed to immediately release a first group of 1,081 conflict-related detainees and prisoners”, including fifteen Saudi nationals. The Iranian Foreign Ministry hailed the agreement and considered it a sign that “Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue is the only solution to the country’s current problems”.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen contended that Gulf countries “understand that the threat is not Israel; it’s Iran”. “Iran never gave up from trying to achieve a nuclear weapon… Iran is the number one financier of terror. The places where Iran is involved are suffering”, he added. Relatedly, a senior U.S. diplomat remarked that the U.S. “has laid out a two-track opportunity in the region”. “You can follow the one that we laid out last Tuesday with Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain… Or you can follow the path of Iran – state-sponsored terrorism and proxy wars and militias and Hizbollah and Hamas. And I think there’s a real coalition that’s building together to say, ‘We’ve seen both sides, and we prefer the former rather than the latter’”, he added.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “Iran’s relations with neighbouring countries are based on mutual respect… However, unfortunately, there are some states in the southern section of the Persian Gulf, such as the UAE, KSA and Bahrain, who do not wish to establish durable relations with Iran”. “Their relations with Israel are certainly not a strong point in our relations, but they will not impede our relations with them either”, Zarif added.

King Salman told the UN General Assembly that “our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security. A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required to ensure fundamental solutions to the Iranian regime’s attempt to obtain weapons of mass destruction, and its ballistic missile program, and its interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its sponsorship of terrorism”. On Yemen, he maintained that Tehran “interfered… by supporting the coup carried out by its surrogate, the Huthi militia”, adding: “the Kingdom will not hesitate to defend its national security, nor will it abandon the fraternal people of Yemen until they regain their complete sovereignty and independence from Iranian hegemony”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently noted: “Saudi Arabia has, for years, been pursuing a blame-game policy and seeking to distort realities in order to escape the realities and not to be held accountable for its crimes”. He further highlighted Iran’s “fundamental policy of boosting diplomatic and dialogue-oriented talks in the region and the promotion of relations with all neighbours”.

An Iranian military spokesperson confirmed that “we provided… [Yemenis] with the experiences in technology in the defence sphere, as they have learned how to produce missiles, drones and weapons in Yemen by themselves”. “The resistance front countries have armies and forces themselves. We provide them with advisory help. In order to share our experiences with the people of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, our experienced forces go there and give them intellectual assistance, but this is the people and armies of those countries who stand against the enemies in practice”, he added.

The U.S. State Department underscored that Washington “remains deeply concerned by the Huthis’ aggression, supported by Iranian weapons shipments in violation of UN arms embargoes”, and urged “the Huthis to immediately cease their cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia”. 

A Saudi official reported receiving “a report about the fall of a military projectile launched by the Iranian-backed Huthi militia from inside Yemeni territory”, which injured five civilians in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “intercepted and destroyed... a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis in the direction of Khamis Mushait. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a number of ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs” launched by the Huthis toward Saudi Arabia, and accused the Huthis of “deliberately escalating the hostile, terrorist targeting of civilians and civilian objects”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had hit “important targets” in Riyadh “in retaliation to the continuous escalation by the Saudi enemy and its continuous siege on Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis toward Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that multiple Huthi drones had “targeted Abha International Airport” and “struck the designated targets with great precisions”.

Speaking at an Arab League ministerial session, a senior Bahraini diplomat criticised “Iran's threats to the stability and security of the region, noting that Iranian interference is taking place in a blatant and dangerous manner in a number of Arab countries through its continuous support for terrorist organisations, including Hizbollah and the terrorist Huthi group”. He further urged “a firm Arab stance against these Iranian threats”. According to a Bahraini readout, “the council expressed its condemnation of the continuous Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, its support for terrorism and training of terrorists, smuggling of weapons and explosives, and provoking sectarian strife”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “the groundless allegations [against Iran] are made from the viewpoint of the countries which have made the strategic mistake of establishing relations with the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and are now hurriedly seeking to draw attention away from the source of threat in a mistaken belief”.  

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had intercepted “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that multiple Huthis drones had “targeted Abha International Airport”, adding that it was a “response to the continuous escalation of the forces of aggression [ie, the Saudi-led coalition] and their continued siege of the Yemeni people”.

A UN panel of experts report on Yemen concluded that between July 2019 and June 2020, Iran and the U.S. were among the countries that “continued their support of parties to the conflict including through arms transfers, thereby helping to perpetuate the conflict”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that the report “ignored Iran’s pivotal role and its unfailing assistance for the political settlement of crisis in Yemen and has made a totally false claim by putting Iran on a list alongside those who arm the Saudi-led coalition aggressors… The allegation of Iran’s arms support for Yemen is basically false”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” en route to Saudi Arabia. The same day, a Huthi military spokesperson claimed a drone attack on Abha Airport “with a number of drones targeting military sites and sensitive targets inside Saudi territory”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV while in Yemeni airspace”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted two armed UAVs launched by the Huthis. One was aimed at Abha International Airport, where “debris scattered” following the interception; there were no reported casualties. The same day, the coalition destroyed a Huthi “bomb-laden USV” in the southern Red Sea.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis toward Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition downed a ballistic missile fired in the direction of Najran. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” and “one ballistic missile” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV launched by the terrorist Huthi militia” and one ballistic missile bound for Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that it had downed “multiple bomb-laden UAVs” launched by the Huthis within Yemen. The following day, the coalition intercepted “a ballistic missile… toward civilians and civilian objects”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV... and two ballistic missiles” by the Huthis targeting Khamis Mushait. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed “some southern neighbours” and affirmed: “Iran’s defence and weapons power is in favour of the whole region, and we use weapons to defend ourselves, and our power is not against you. You have to be careful of those who plunder your resources and sell you weapons to bomb your neighbour… Certainly, if we did not stand for the stability of the region, you would not be here today. So we have always been your supporter and brother”.

Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA reportedly called on the agency “to conduct a transparent probe into Saudi Arabia’s very hidden nuclear program and present a report to the members”. He further argued that “despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is an NPT member, it still refuses to accept the IAEA’s safeguards inspections, and despite repeated requests by the agency for several years, it has not amended its obligations so as to allow the inspectors in”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and shot down a bomb-laden Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)” launched by the Huthis.

Google’s Threat Analysis Group reported that it had “terminated sixteen YouTube channels, one advertising account and one AdSense account as part of our ongoing investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Iran”. “The campaign was linked to the Iranian state-sponsored International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM) network, and posted content in Arabic related to the U.S. response to COVID-19 and content about Saudi-American relations”, the report added.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remarked that “Our eternal concerns are helping innocent Palestine and showing sympathy to the injured body of Yemen and to the consternations of Muslims subject to oppression in any part of the world. We also consider it our duty to offer words of advice to the heads of some Muslim countries who have resorted to the bosom of the enemy instead of relying on their Muslim brothers”. “These are people who condone the survival of the usurping and oppressive Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and who extend their hand of friendship to them privately and openly… I warn them about the bitter consequences of this behaviour” Khamenei added. He also remarked that “we regard the presence of the U.S. in west Asia as detrimental to regional nations and as a cause of insecurity, destruction and backwardness for countries”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that “we are ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia as two Persian Gulf states. However, it seems that the Saudi Arabian authorities are more aimed at starting a war [along] with the U.S. and benefitting from it. However, over the past few months, the U.S. has shown that it is not ready to get into a war in the interests of Saudi Arabia”. “The Saudis had better wake up, cheer up and engage in dialogue with those who are always with them in the region, instead of aiming their efforts at cooperating with Israel and the U.S.”, Zarif added.

The U.S., Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council jointly announced that they had “renewed their full support for the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) project to connect the electricity grids of Iraq and the GCC. The U.S. is committed to facilitating this project and providing support where needed”. “This project”, the statement added, “will provide much-needed electricity to the people of Iraq and support Iraq’s economic development, particularly in the southern provinces”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and “bomb-laden UAVs launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia launched deliberately from Sanaa to target civilians and civilian objects in the Kingdom”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that “the operation targeted the warplanes hangers, base housing and patriot systems in Khamis Mushait and other military sites at the airports of Abha, Jizan and Najran… A giant oil facility in the industrial zone in Jizan was [also] accurately targeted”. The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the next day denounced “Iran’s provision of… weapons to the Huthis in violation of the embargo imposed by Security Council Resolution 2216”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded: “we recommend the new GCC secretary general focuses his attention on the need to stop attacks by the [Saudi-led] coalition aggressors against Yemeni women and children and help settle the Yemen crisis through intra-Yemeni talks rather than pursuing the blame game trend and levelling groundless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is in line with the destructive role of some GCC members”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remarked that it “would be tragically dangerous for the region and created instability” if the UN arms embargo against Iran were to expire in October 2020. He added that “we’ve been working with our Gulf state partners, not only to get them to assist the U.S. effort to extend this arms embargo… but second, we’ve provided a great deal of assistance”. “You see all kinds of U.S. sales of weapons… and things that we can do both publicly and otherwise to help provide security in the face of an increasing capability of the Iranians to fire missiles all throughout the region, and ultimately establish a set of missile capabilities that is robust enough to defeat missile defences throughout the region, but strike in places that go beyond even just their near neighbourhood”, Pompeo added.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had conducted a “destruction operation against two legitimate military targets of the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia” off the coast of Yemen.  “The destroyed targets are two bomb-laden USVs [Unmanned Surface Vehicles]… prepared to imminently execute hostile and terrorist actions in Bab al-Mandab Strait and Southern Red Sea”, the coalition asserted.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson remarked that “since the end of June… we’ve noticed the Huthi militias escalating their attempts to target civilians in Saudi Arabia, in Yemeni areas, and to threaten maritime routes and international trade. The important aspect here is that there is no doubt that the Iranian regime, the Iranian [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) are dictating [orders for those attempts]”. “The [Huthi] militias do not have the power to make the decision to reach a political solution… The Iranian regime is the one benefitting from the continuation of those operations or the Yemen crisis”, he contended.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provided details of a 28 June weapons seizure previously alluded to by Saudi officials, stating that “U.S. and partner forces interdicted a vessel off the coast of Yemen with illicit cargo including 200 RPGs, more than 1,700 AK rifles, 21 surface-to-air and land-attack missiles, several anti-tank missiles and other advanced weapons and missiles”. Pompeo contended that “Iran is not abiding by the UN arms embargo restrictions” and urged the UN Security Council to “extend the arms embargo on Iran [beyond October] to prevent further conflict in the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson reacted by saying that “Americans who feel they have not succeeded in continuing Iran’s arms embargo on the international arena and the UN Security Council, are trying to use accusations and lies as an excuse to continue to exert maximum pressure and advance their vicious goals”.

The Saudi cabinet underscored that “the international community should take a firm stance against Iran and appropriate measures to continue [the UN] arms embargo on the Iranian regime, and to deal seriously with the nuclear and ballistic programs being developed by Iran”. The cabinet further cautioned “against the security consequences of the arms agreements that ignored Iran’s regional expansion and the legitimate security concerns of the region’s countries”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… four bomb-laden UAVs launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia toward the Kingdom”. A Huthi military spokesperson indicated that the attack struck “Saudi military sites in Asir and Najran provinces”, and warned that “we will continue targeting the Saudi depth and its military and sovereign institutions, and we will make sure that our targets are far from harming the Saudi people”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “started a military operation against Yemen’s Huthi movement after it stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia”.

Briefing the Security Council on the UN Secretary-General’s ninth biannual report on the implementation of resolution 2231, a senior UN official shared the Secretariat’s conclusion that “the examined cruise missiles and delta-wing UAVs and/or parts thereof used in the [2019] attacks on Saudi Arabia were of Iranian origin”. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the report’s findings “reinforce our support for a continued ban on arming the Iranian regime, and confronting its developing nuclear and ballistic programs”. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed that the U.S. had “coerced the Secretariat to rely on self-serving allegations and forged documents to produce an utterly unprofessional report outside the scope of its mandate”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, met with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh. According to a U.S. readout, the two sides “highlighted the importance of extending the United Nations arms embargo on Iran” and “discussed joint diplomatic efforts at the UN and around the world to extend the embargo” beyond October 2020. At a joint press conference with Hook, a senior Saudi official warned that “despite the embargo, Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist groups, so what will happen if the embargo is lifted? Iran will be become more ferocious and aggressive”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded: “it is time that… countries [like Saudi Arabia] give up injudicious remarks and blind obedience to the U.S… The only way to establish stability and security in the region is to change hostile behaviour and turn to regional cooperation”, he added.

Saudi Arabia’s Border Guards revealed that on 25 June “three Iranian boats… entered Saudi waters, where they were immediately followed up and repeated warnings issued to them to stop, but they refused to respond”. The Saudi forces subsequently “fired warning shots, forcing the Iranian boats to retreat”. An Iranian official indicated that the ships were fishing boats that had gone off course.

The Arab Parliament issued a resolution holding “the Iranian regime fully responsible for its flagrant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and its continued provision of Huthi coup militia with smart weapons, ballistic missiles and drones with the aim of destabilising security in the region and perpetuating chaos in the Republic of Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted “eight bomb-laden UAVs… and three ballistic missiles” launched by the Huthis. The following day, the coalition reported the interception of another Huthi missile targeting Riyadh. A Huthi military spokesperson declared that “we have implemented… the largest offensive operation named ‘the 4th Balanced Deterrence Operation’ on the capital of the Saudi enemy” as a result of “the ongoing unjust blockade and the brutal aggression against our great Yemeni people”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia from Saada, Yemen, toward Najran in a deliberate attempt to target civilians and civilian objects”.

Saudi Arabia’s IAEA envoy told the Board of Governors that “Iran is still exploiting the shortage of an international nuclear agreement to extend its nuclear activity towards obtaining nuclear weapons”. He further expressed support for “a new comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran that tackles the shortage in the current agreement, in a way that guarantees Iran’s as well as its regional surrounding rights in peaceful usage of nuclear activities and, at the same time, prevents Iran from expanding its terrorist regional plots or obtaining nuclear weapons”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, posited that “Iran would love to see a version of Hizbollah on Saudi’s southern flank. That is their ambition. And this would, I think, help build out Iran’s goals to create the Shiite crescent that stretches from Beirut down to Yemen. And so we’re doing what we can to interdict weapons”. Contending that “the Iranian regime has not been held to account by the international community for what it has done to create one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes”, Hook argued that “the Huthis are a tribal militia that have been organised, trained and equipped for many years by Iran. And they did this while they were in the Iran deal”. Discussing negotiations, Hook claimed that “every time we bring these groups together, Iran is always hanging outside the conference room urging the Huthis to keep at it. And that has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, obstacle to winding down the war in Yemen, is Iran wants to keep attacking Saudi Arabia through a proxy. It’s no different from what they do in Lebanon with Hizbollah or with Palestine Islamic Jihad, or with Hamas, or with its PMF in Iraq, on and on. This is Iran’s playbook”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… a bomb-laden UAV launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia to deliberately target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait”. Later in the day, the coalition announced interception of “multiple bomb-laden UAVs” intended for “civilians and civilian objects in Aseer province”. A Huthi military spokesperson maintained that the strikes “hit their targets” and were “in response to the massive air escalation” by the coalition.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia from Saada governorate, deliberately targeting innocent civilians and civilian objects in Najran”. According to the statement, “minor injuries were sustained by civilians as a result of debris of the intercepted ballistic missile”.

Danish authorities announced charges against “three people for financing and promoting terrorism in Iran, including in collaboration with a Saudi intelligence service”. Denmark’s foreign minister underscored that “we will not accept such activities under any circumstances and our ambassador in Riyadh has repeated the same message directly to the Saudi authorities”.

CENTCOM commander Kenneth McKenzie opined that “Iran has no interest in this [Yemen] war being over. In fact, there's nothing better for them than for Saudi to continue to bleed out, for the Huthis to continue to launch attacks into Saudi Arabia and for this to continue to go on as something they can use to further embarrass the kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international stage”. McKenzie further assessed that “if we could reduce the Iranian patronage… for the Huthis we might be able to get to an ultimate solution there. And that would allow other things to happen”.

A Pentagon official asserted that “American forces maintain strong capabilities in the [regional] operations, including air defence, to address any Iran-related emergencies as needed… We continue to work with the international community and the Saudi armed forces to strengthen regional air defence capabilities, and this is a multilateral and long-term effort”. “The U.S.-Saudi defence partnership is long-term, and includes a range of aspects of cooperation, including counter-terrorism, maritime security and air defence”, the spokesperson underscored.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… UAVs launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia toward civilian objects in Najran”.

Asked to comment on the “status of the Patriot missile battery withdrawals from Saudi Arabia”, a U.S. defence spokesperson indicated that “we have robust capabilities in theatre to address multiple threats and we have the ability to augment those resources on short notice... We have a longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia. That is clearly not in question, whether we're moving forces in or moving them out. That's counterterrorism, that's maritime security, that's air defence and we remain committed to that”.

President Trump spoke to King Salman, and both leaders “reaffirmed the strong U.S.-Saudi defense partnership”, according to a U.S. readout. Commenting on reports about U.S. plans to remove “two Patriot anti-missile batteries from Saudi Arabia along with a number of military personnel”, the U.S. Special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated: “it doesn’t mean that Iran is no longer a threat… Our troop levels go up and down depending on the circumstances, but the mission set is the same. Our mission is not at all changed. We’re standing with our partners and our allies in the region. We’re doing everything we can to protect American interests”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo subsequently indicated that “those Patriot batteries had been in place for some time. Those troops needed to get back. They needed to reposition… this wasn’t either a recognition of a decreased threat [from Iran]”. “It’s not a decrease in our support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, he added. Pompeo further noted that the Iranians “can see that we still have ample capability to continue to exercise both our maximum pressure campaign and our deterrence in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “Huthi militia launched two ballistic missiles”, both of which fell in Yemeni territory.

After the Yemeni Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self-rule in southern Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition called “for an immediate end to any steps contrary to the Riyadh Agreement, and work rapidly toward its implementation”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson also indicated that “Iran supports the united Yemen whose territorial integrity is protected… Such actions [of self-rule] will not only fail to help solve the current problems in Yemen, but will complicate the situation in the country”. The U.S. State Department said it was “concerned” by the STC announcement, contending that “such unilateral actions only exacerbate instability in Yemen”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with the UN Secretary-General, who, according to an Iranian readout, “welcomed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts to ensure a ceasefire in Yemen and launch political talks over the Yemeni crisis”. Both officials “also emphasised the need for the reopening and security of the border and ports in Yemen to deliver humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, particularly at the time of outbreak of coronavirus”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced “a one-month extension of the ceasefire” initiated on 8 April. The statement indicated that “the chance is still there for concerted efforts to reach a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Yemen, and consensus on serious, direct and tangible steps to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni brotherly people”. The Coalition also stated that “it will strongly support such fundamental steps with the UN in order to reach a just and comprehensive political solution agreed upon by all the Yemenis”. A Huthi military spokesperson subsequently reported multiple strikes by the coalition.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia deliberately launched a ballistic missile to target civilians and civilian objects in Marib”, and maintained that the action “underscores the militia’s denial of all efforts and initiatives of ceasefire and de-escalation”. The coalition also asserted that it was “continuing to exercise utmost restraint in its rules of engagement, while maintaining the legitimate right to respond proportionately in self-defence, and undertaking all necessary measures to protect civilians in Yemen from the wrath of this terrorist militia”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with the UN Secretary-General discussing, inter alia, “latest developments in Yemen”. The two spoke again the following day. According to an Iranian readout, “the UN chief gave a report on the international body’s efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Yemen”, and “Zarif expressed support for the Secretary-General's efforts… stating that the Yemeni crisis has no military solution. He also called the establishment of a lasting ceasefire a prelude for the launch of political process to resolve the crisis”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced a “comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen for a period of two weeks”, effective 9 April and with a possibility of extension. A spokesperson declared that “the Coalition will seize this opportunity to unite all efforts to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Yemen, and agree on serious, concrete and direct steps to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and maintain their health and safety” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A Huthi military spokesperson on 9 April maintained that coalition strikes were ongoing. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the announcement and “urge[d] the Huthis to respond in kind and cooperate with the UN special envoy, who has called for urgent talks between the parties”; another senior U.S. diplomat opined that “we think this is incredibly productive, and we think it’s really problematic that the Huthis aren’t following suit”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with his Saudi counterpart and “underscored that the U.S. strongly condemns the Huthis’ attempted attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia on 28 March”. According to a U.S. readout of the conversation, “Secretary Pompeo expressed support for the de-escalation efforts led by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, and the Secretary and the Foreign Minister agreed that an unstable Yemen only benefits the Iranian regime and that the regime’s destabilising behaviour there must be countered. The Secretary underscored that the U.S. would continue to support Saudi Arabia in the face of Iran’s threatening behaviour”.

Discussing an 28 March Huthi missile attack against Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that “the damage that was done by those was very minor, but nonetheless there’d been a lot of work to reduce conflict, to take down the levels of violence that were there, and we’d had some success. The Saudis had been leading that effort, and it broke down that day”. Pompeo added that “the Saudis have now responded, and I’m hopeful they can get back on the right path. We are hopeful that we can find a path forward with the UN Security Council resolution in Yemen to find a path to peace there... Sadly, it appears that the Iranians don’t share our vision for peace in Yemen and in Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that in response to a 28 March Huthi missile attack, the coalition had “conducted a military operation to neutralise and destroy ‘legitimate military targets’ of the terrorist Huthi militia in accordance with customary International Humanitarian Law to confront ongoing and imminent threats”. The statement added that “the targets that were destroyed include advanced capabilities of the terrorist militia, storage, assembly and installation sites of ballistic missiles and UAVs, locations of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) experts and weapons depots”. The coalition further posited that “the Iranian regime is concentrating all financial, man and logistic powers to support the terrorist militia to realise its ideals and expansionist ambitions on the account of the Iranian people who are suffering in this hectic time”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded by calling on “the coalition of aggressors against Yemen to take into account the realities on the ground… instead of delusions and reveries, and to recognise that playing with words, pinning blame on others and making accusations against the others will not make up for their political and military failures”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “the Royal Saudi Air Defense intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia… toward Riyadh and Jizan”. Debris fell in both cities though there were no initial reports of casualties. The coalition asserted that “the launch of ballistic missiles by the terrorist Huthi militia and the IRGC at this time reflects the real threat of this terrorist militia and the Iranian regime sponsoring it…It is a continuation of Iran’s strategy of falsification and procrastination to deepen the suffering of brotherly people of Yemen, and further proof that the Huthi militia is stripped of its will and decision-making ability to end this crisis”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had been “able to intercept and destroy UAVs launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia toward civilian objects in Abha and Khamis Mushait”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and suggested that “Saudi Arabia has a real opportunity to rise to the occasion and reassure global energy and financial markets when the world faces serious economic uncertainty”. Pompeo also “thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s continued partnership in the face of the Iranian regime’s destabilising regional behaviour”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “detected an attempt by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia to conduct an imminent hostile, terrorist act in Southern Red Sea using two R/C exploding boats launched from Hodeida governorate”.

King Salman chaired a cabinet session which reiterated that “Iran bears direct responsibility for the ‎outbreak of corona infection”. The cabinet further contended “that the international community must ‎assume its responsibilities regarding the Iranian hostile practices and sponsorship of terrorist activities ‎in the region and the world which pose a threat to the international peace and security”. ‎

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed… six remote-controlled exploding boats and naval mines assembly, rigging and launch sites” in western Yemen, adding that “these locations are used [by the Huthis] to prepare execution of hostile action and terrorist operations that threaten sea lines of communication and international trade in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait”.

After five Saudi nationals tested positive for COVID-19 following travel to Iran, a Saudi official stated that “the Kingdom denounced Iran's irresponsible action of granting Saudi citizens entry to its territories without stamping their passports, especially at a time where there is an outbreak… in Iran. These actions are a proof of Iran’s direct responsibility in increasing COVID-19 infections and in the virus’s outbreak all around the world”. The official further asserted that Saudi Arabia would consider “the Iranian authorities fully responsible for all Saudis who did not report their travels and had gotten infected during their stay in Iran”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently indicated that “electronic visa issuance rules and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran are equal for nationals of all countries… and labeling and stamping entry and exit sign is prevented according to the visa requirements of many advanced and developed countries”. He further urged “Saudi Arabia to avoid politicising coronavirus and psychological projection in this field”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “an imminent terrorist attack that was aiming to target an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea… was thwarted”. The coalition’s spokesperson indicated that “the attempt was carried out using four boats and [was] attempting to bomb the oil tanker using one of the unmanned, remote-controlled exploding boats”, and further asserted that “the naval threat… has evolved into a strategic threat to international security”.

The speaker of the Arab Parliament reportedly asserted that “the transgressions and threats of the Iranian regime require a unified Arab stance to stop them, indicating that the Arab Parliament is currently working on preparing a ‘unified Arab strategy to deal with the geographical neighbouring countries’”, Iran among them.

U.S. Central Command announced that “the U.S. Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) are participating in [bilateral maritime] exercise Nautical Defender 20”.

A Saudi court sentenced one Saudi individual to death and seven others to jail for reported charges of “spying for Iran and monitoring two foreign embassies in the Kingdom”.

The Saudi-led coalition said that it had foiled “an attempt of an imminent hostile, terrorist attack in Southern Red [Sea] using a remote-controlled exploding boat… by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia”. The coalition also announced that it had carried out “a military operation to destroy legitimate military targets of Iran-made ballistic missile and UAV assembly, storage and launch capabilities in the capital [ie, Sanaa]”.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo maintained that “the leaders in this region… appreciate America’s ability to support the deterrence posture that we have [against Iran] and they understand that if we cower, if we shrink back from the Iranian imperialism, from this theocratic revolutionary regime, that life for ordinary people, whether that’s in Jordan or in Bahrain or here in Saudi Arabia, or in the Emirates, will be worse off… They’re thankful for our presence, for our support and the work that we’re all doing as part of this coalition whether that’s in the Strait of Hormuz or in Europe or right here on the ground”.

Speaking alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. ambassador to country indicated that “the kingdom has done a tremendous amount to suppress Sunni Islamic extremism within their own borders, and they have been a great cooperation partner with us… Now what the next job is, at some point in history – hopefully soon – Shiite Islamic extremism led by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force gets rolled back”. Discussing the aftermath of the September 2019 attack against Saudi oil facilities, he noted that the Saudis “naturally turned to us for support, and our support has been defensive. They’ve never asked for offensive support… the defensive posture is much improved not only for the U.S. but for Saudi Arabia. And so our ability to withstand something that might come from that direction is much improved, but it’s not perfect”. He further maintained that “the missiles that are being used and fired from Yemen by the Huthis are all coming from the Iranians… it’s really important for us to understand who is the aggressor in the region, and it’s no doubt it’s the Iranians”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “the Royal Saudi Air Defence intercepted ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia towards Saudi cities”. The following day, a Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had “targeted Aramco and other sensitive targets in Yanbu”, Saudi Arabia.

Referring to weapon shipments seized by the U.S. forces in the Arabian Sea on November 2019 and February 2020, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command stated that “the U.S. assesses with high confidence that the weapons… were manufactured in Iran and were being illicitly smuggled to the Huthis in Yemen”. A senior U.S. defence official underscored that “the Pentagon continues to be committed to disrupting the transport of illicit weapons in the region and preventing Iran from spreading its malign influence”. The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, asserted that “Iran’s ongoing transfer of weapons to the Huthis violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions”. He added that “The international community should apply more pressure on Iran until it stops providing arms, training and funding to proxy groups in the gray zone. This includes by acting to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran, which, under the Iran deal, expires in October”.

Discussing Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) proposal, President Rouhani noted that “some regional countries welcomed it well and some others have not yet given an explicit response, but we still believe that it is the regional states that must help establish peace. We stress that all countries must enjoy security and stability in the region”. On Yemen, Rouhani underlined that “the Yemeni issues must be resolved by the Yemenis themselves and the countries that are carrying out acts of aggression toward the country must stop it”. He also asserted that Iran “oppose[s] war”, while adding that “Americans are not looking for war either”.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that the previous day a “Royal Saudi Air Force Tornado fighter jet crashed while conducting close air support to units of the National Army of Yemen”. The coalition subsequently indicated that it “holds the terrorist Huthi militia responsible for the lives and wellbeing of the [Tornado] air crew”. The following day the Huthis accused the coalition of conducting airstrikes in al-Jawf governorate in which “nearly 30 people were killed”; Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the strike.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan indicated that “we have a back channel [between Riyadh and the Huthis] and it’s not yet ready to move to the highest level”. “It’s making progress”, he added, maintaining that “we have seen some deterioration recently, but we are committed to moving it forward”.

At the Munich Security Conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif underscored that “we have no intention of having trouble with any of our neighbours… We would run to the assistance of Saudi Arabia if anybody attacks Saudi Arabia”. Zarif added: “my message to my brothers: I’m not asking them to stop their relations with the U.S. That’s none of my business... What is our business is that the U.S. will not give you protection. Israel will not give you protection. You need to get protection from within. Security cannot be purchased”. He further accused Saudi Arabia of funding “every Iranian terrorist organisation”. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan indicated that “our message to Iran has been that once they are willing to admit that their regional behaviour is the main source of instability and that activities such as firing ballistic missiles at your neighbouring states is not contributory to security, then we can discuss the potential of talks”.

The U.S. contended that the UN Security Council’s Final Report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen supported “the conclusion of the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom that Iran bears responsibility” for the 14 September attack on Saudi oil facilities, arguing that since then “Iran has continued its program of terrorism, nuclear extortion and destabilising behaviour”. “The Security Council,” the statement added, “now has less than 36 weeks until the October expiration of the UN arms embargo to renew sanctions forbidding the sale of certain weapons systems to Iran”. According to the UN report, “despite claims to the contrary, the Huthi forces are unlikely to be responsible for the [September 2019] attack, as the estimated range of the weapon systems used does not allow for a launch from Huthi-controlled territory. Nevertheless, a number of other attacks on Saudi Arabia can clearly be attributed to the Houthi forces”. The Panel also reported “the continued reception by Huthi forces of military support” and indicated that “some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper remarked that “what we want to do is increase the NATO activities' presence in Iraq, making sure that we're fully living up to the capacity available to us in NATO Mission Iraq. And then, of course, to the degree that NATO can – can offset the U.S. presence, that would over time allow us to bring some forces home”. Esper further noted that “I also want to see if NATO can help us, help our friends and partners in the Middle East with air defence, as an example. So the Saudis in particular are – need additional air defence assets to deter Iranian bad behaviour. They're not the only country, but that's an example where I'd like to see greater NATO participation, or at least our NATO partners participating”.

A senior Iranian official posited that “we have always been ready to hold talks with Saudi Arabia, but unfortunately, the leaders of this country are not in charge of making decisions for themselves… The Americans are trying to take advantage of the situation; as such, they don’t allow Saudi leaders to take independent decisions”.

Iran’s ambassador to Iraq remarked that “Tehran welcomes Iraq’s role in seeking to resolve outstanding issues between Iran and Saudi Arabia and regional issues… the Iraqi government has played a constructive role in the region and we welcome any effort to reduce tension”. He also called on the U.S. to “stop interfering in the affairs of the region and dismantle their bases”, adding that “in the event that the U.S. commits another crime, Iran will respond to it again”.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) announced the arrest of three members of an Iranian opposition group, ASMLA (Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahwaz). The three individuals were “charged with espionage in Denmark on behalf of a Saudi intelligence service”, which according to PET took place between 2012 and 2018. A fourth person was detained in the Netherlands.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson reported that “the Saudi government has barred the Islamic Republic” from an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting called “to discuss the OIC's stance on the Palestinian cause” after release of the U.S. Peace to Prosperity plan.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded to reports of a UN panel assessing that the Huthis had obtained materiel “similar to Iran’s” by contending that “all that glitters is not gold and any similar weapon is not necessarily as an Iranian weapon”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that “in response to the air escalation of the aggression, the missile force and drone air force carried out specific operations targeting Aramco in Jizan, Abha, Khamis Mushait base and sensitive targets in the Saudi rear”.

During a trip to Saudi Arabia, a senior U.S. military official predicted that a military engagement involving Iran was “not going to be a ground maneuver war, it’s going to be a war of fires, it’s going to be a war of ballistic missiles, a war of unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles… the ability of nations in the region to provide for their air defence is going to be important”.

In a statement, the U.S. said it was “alarmed by renewed violence in Yemen”. It went on to urge “all parties to put the needs of the Yemeni people first and immediately return to restraint”, while asserting that “the Huthis must cease attacks on Saudi territory”. 

The Saudi Foreign Minister indicated that ISIS “continue to pose a threat and it's very important that the international community continue to support the Iraqi forces to remain vigilant and the American presence is an important of that”. He described the killing by the U.S. of IRGC Quds Force head Qassem Soleimani as “legitimate self-defence” and said that Iran’s “statements [since Soleimani’s killing] aren't positive. But we will continue to call on them to behave in a way that can support regional stability”.

President Trump unveiled “Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People”. Prime Minister Netanyahu told Trump that the initiative “strikes the right balance where others have failed… It’s a great plan for Israel. It’s a great plan for peace”. He also praised the president as “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House”, going on to cite, inter alia, Trump’s moves “to stand up to Iran, to pull out of that dangerous Iran deal… to eliminate Qassem Soleimani”. President Rouhani called the U.S. initiative “abhorrent to all Muslims and freedom seekers in the world”. Saudi Arabia welcomed Trump’s efforts and urged “the start of direct peace negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, under the auspices of the U.S., and to resolve any disagreements with aspects of the plan through negotiations”.

A senior Saudi defence official contended that “the biggest threats to the region, and to international security, is basically Iran”. He further stated that “Iran has expansionist policies. They want to basically take over countries in the region. They have these destructive activities in the region that is pulling the region backward, not forward. This is the cause of friction”. He added that “the Iranian regime and its proxies on one side, and ISIS, al-Qaeda and terrorist organizations on the other side. We believe that they’re both two sides of the same coin… when it comes to us, we’re the common enemy, and they cooperate”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal expressed his government’s willingness to negotiate with Iran, adding that “it is really up to Iran”. He noted that talks would require Tehran’s acknowledgement that Iran “cannot further its regional agenda through violence”. In related remarks, a senior Saudi official called Iran “the largest sponsor of terrorism in the world” and reiterated: “pressure needs to be continued on Iran”. Asserting that “the Iranians have to show good faith… change their behaviour and their policies”, he also stated that if Iran “want to be treated as a normal country, they should act as one”. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif subsequently took to Twitter to maintain that “'normal’ countries don’t operate abattoirs disguised as consulates. ‘Normal’ countries don’t attack their neighbours, cause a humanitarian crisis and refuse to talk. Nonetheless, we don’t set preconditions for dialogue”.

A missile strike against a Yemeni armed forces camp in Marib killed over a hundred and left dozens more injured; the Saudi government “expressed in the strongest terms… condemnation and denunciation of this sinful terrorist attack carried out by the Huthi militia”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif emphasised that "we are ready for negotiations with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf littoral states and we are ready to give proposals regarding security in this region, particularly the Strait of Hormuz”.

French President Emmanuel Macro, announced that “in the Arabian Peninsula and Arab-Persian Gulf, where tensions are mounting, we have deployed in record time the Jaguar Task Force, which contributes to reassuring the Saudi kingdom”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently reacted by asserting that “your military presence in the Persian Gulf is as wrong as your naming it. Both mistakes are huge but compensable”.

Media reports cited a confidential UN report assessing that “Huthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019” because the missiles used in the attack did not “have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Huthis”. “Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory”, the report added.

Following the killing by the U.S. of Iran’s Qods Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, the Saudi foreign minister indicated that “we are very keen that the situation in the region doesn’t escalate any further. It’s certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “six Saudi war prisoners arrived at King Salman Airbase”.

The head of the IRGC's Qods force, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that "at the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani”, adding that "Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region". Iran confirmed Soleimani’s death, and the IRGC said that four other Qods force members along with five Iraqis, notably including a senior Hashd official, were also killed in the operation. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei subsequently asserted that "enemies should bear in mind that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take tough revenge on criminals over the martyrdom of General Soleimani".

The Saudi Cabinet “expressed the Kingdom's condemnation and denunciation of the attacks by terrorist militias backed by the Iranian regime against the American forces present in Iraq”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “discussed [27 December] Kataeb Hizbollah strikes on Coalition Forces in Kirkuk… as well as the U.S.’ defensive strikes [on 29 December] in Iraq and Syria”. They “agreed that the Iranian regime and its proxies continue to be a destabilising force in the region and that nations have a right to defend themselves in the face of these threats”. According to the U.S. readout of the call, Pompeo “underscored that attacks by the Iranian regime, or their proxies of any identity, that harm Americans, our allies or our interests will be answered with a decisive response”, and both sides “agreed to continue to work together to continue countering Iran’s malign behaviour”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reportedly indicated that the “the armed forces of Yemen are fully prepared to strike nine strategic targets deep inside the territory of the aggressors, of which six are located in Saudi Arabia and the rest are in the United Arab Emirates”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that a “Badr-1P ballistic missile struck… a military camp for the Saudi army and its mercenaries in Najran”.

The Saudi foreign minister and the GCC secretary general signed a GCC Unified Military Command Headquarters Agreement in Riyadh.

Twitter announced that it had removed 5,929 accounts “for violating… platform manipulation policies”. “Rigorous investigations by our Site Integrity team have allowed us to attribute these accounts to a significant state-backed information operation on Twitter originating in Saudi Arabia”, the statement added.

In remarks at the Doha Forum, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called for “recognition of the imperative of a regional security and cooperation arrangement under the UN umbrella”, adding that “the Hormuz Peace Endeavour – or HOPE –  is a continuation of our longstanding commitment to an inclusive and comprehensive regional framework for constructive engagement”. He also noted that “like the nuclear accord, no good idea can be pursued by only one party… While everyone could have benefited from the paradigm shift that the JCPOA promised – as a foundation and not a ceiling – it cannot be expected from a single party to be forthcoming while others are pursuing an opposite path”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, assessed that “because of the Iran nuclear deal we’ve been accumulating risk of a regional conflict — and what Iran did to Saudi Arabia on September 14 was an act of war”. He further noted that “modern terrorism has an asymmetric advantage over conventional deterrence… we know that because we have enhanced our force posture in the region, we’ve deterred and disrupted a lot of attacks. But the asymmetric advantage that any terrorist regime enjoys, it’s impossible to eliminate”. “We hope that we’ve put in place the sort of deterrence that will avoid another attack… we’re going to continue to enhance Saudi defences and our defences in the region to avoid it from happening again”, Hook added.

U.S. State Department announced that it had “designated Mohammad al-Otaibi, former Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul... for his involvement in gross violations of human rights”, adding that “the State Department continues to urge the Government of Saudi Arabia to conduct a full, fair and transparent trial for those responsible for Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi’s death” in 2018.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister was cited as asserting that “the Iranian threat is a threat to everyone… There is an understanding by the GCC countries on the importance of dealing with the threat and confronting it in the necessary ways”. He also called on Iran to “change its behaviour in attacking ships in the Gulf, supplying militias with weapons, financing terrorism and destabilising countries”.

Addressing a GCC summit, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman remarked that “our region today is undergoing circumstances and challenges that call for concerted efforts to confront them, as the Iranian regime continues its hostile actions to undermine security and stability and support terrorism… [This] requires us to preserve the gains of our countries and the interests of our peoples, work with the international community to stop the interference of this regime, deal seriously with its nuclear program and the program to develop ballistic missiles and secure energy sources, safety of waterways and freedom of maritime navigation”.

The GCC Supreme Council issued a communique expressing “its consistent positions and decisions regarding relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, stressing the need for Iran to adhere to the basic principles based on the Charter of the United Nations and the charters of international law, principles of good-neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and resolving disputes by peaceful means, not to use force or threaten to resort to force and reject sectarianism”. The council also “expressed its welcome and support for the steps taken by the U.S. to coerce the Iranian regime to stop its destabilising policy of security and stability and its support and sponsor terrorism around the world”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson consequently asserted that “the repetition of groundless allegations in that statement results from the political pressures from a few members of the council, which have made every effort during the past couple of decades to prevent promotion of multilateral cooperation… With their short-sightedness throughout these years, not only have they allowed for the plunder of the neighbouring countries’ wealth, but they have also paved the way for further interference from aliens in this delicate region”.

Referring to the 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, the UN Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that “at this time, it [ie, the UN] is unable to independently corroborate that the cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles used in these attacks are of Iranian origin”, while also noting that Huthi forces “have not shown to be in possession, nor been assessed to be in possession”, of the materiel employed during the operation.

A senior Huthi official indicated that “the [Huthi] Yemeni Armed Forces has completed all aspects of construction that qualify it for a comprehensive strategic attack that cripples the enemy's capabilities… [It] has a bank of naval and ground military targets for the Zionist enemy [ie, Israel], and we will not hesitate to hit it whenever the leadership decides”.

A senior Saudi official opined that “Iran is a threat to the entire region and its aggression can no longer be tolerated”. He also underlined that “nobody is talking about a regime change in Iran. The solution is to have a negotiating table and agree on a better JCPOA, stop of interference into other countries and behaviours towards terrorism”. On Yemen, the senior official stated that “Yemen is of particular importance to us, and Iran’s intervention there is devastating. The only solution in Yemen is political, and the Huthis are the ones who started the war, not us… All Yemenis, including the Huthis, have a role in the future of Yemen”.

A senior Indian official confirmed that Iran had repatriated three Indian fisherman whose Saudi-owned vessel had been detained in January 2019.

Meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Tehran, President Rouhani contended that “unfortunately, Europe and the U.S., despite what they say, are not interested in [the] establishment of peace in Yemen because they have been able to sell a great number of weapons”. He further asserted that "we should all attempt to put an end to the war in Yemen as soon as possible and establish stability and security in the country within the framework of Yemeni-Yemeni peace talks”.

Meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Tehran, President Rouhani remarked that “from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s point of view, there is no problem with expanding relations with neighbours and resuming ties with Saudi Arabia… All countries should stand beside each other to maintain security and stability in the region”. Referring to Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) proposal, Rouhani asserted that “we should maintain security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz through expanding cooperation and we should not let foreigners interfere”.

128 Huthi prisoners freed by the Saudi-led coalition arrived in Yemen, prompting a senior Huthi official to call it “a first practical step by the Saudis that builds trust”.

A Saudi cabinet session “condemned continued violations and breaches by Iran of international conventions and treaties relating to its nuclear program, welcoming… the decision of the U.S. to end the exemption of Iran's Fordow nuclear facility from sanctions, stressing the need for the international community to take a firm and similar position towards Iran's violations because of the undermining of international peace and security”.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, visited Riyadh and met with his Saudi counterpart, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other officials.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson indicated that the coalition had “decided… to release 200 prisoners of the Huthi militia”. A senior Huthi official subsequently reacted by saying that “we welcome the news of the release of 200 captives by the American-Saudi-UAE coalition and its allies and we call for a halt to torture and employing coercive measures against the captives”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “we believe that through a strong neighbourhood, we will be able to achieve our individual goals much easier and much better than individually… Iran is interested in maintaining the same type of relations that it has with its ECO (Economic Cooperation Organisation) partners and extending it to our partners in the Persian Gulf region”. “All of us”, he added, “will benefit from cooperation and all of us will suffer from competition, from conflict. from instability and from insecurity”. Discussing Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) proposal, Zarif emphasised that “you cannot be secure if your neighbours are not. That is why we extended the hand of friendship that we have extended to our ECO partners to our partners in the Persian Gulf, hoping that the same type of arrangement that would lead to greater confidence in cooperation could also evolve through cooperation, through joint effort, and through joint thinking also in the Persian Gulf region”.

Discussing the 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, a senior Saudi official indicated that “the results of the investigation will be revealed. What is absolutely clear is that these missiles and drones are Iranian-made, and the attack occurred from the north, not from the south. We hold Iran responsible for this. We expect the international community to take steps in order to extract the price from Iran”. He additionally posited that “the idea that perhaps engagement will cause the Iranians to change their behaviour has not worked in 40 years… The key to regional stability is deterrence”. “If Iran chooses to continue along its destructive path, sanctions should be increased, not reduced”, the official added. He also identified three principles by which Iran could, in his words, “become an accepted member of the international community”, namely: “abandon the principle of exporting the revolution, accept the sovereignty of nations and respect international law and the principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries”.

Israel’s foreign minister contended that “now is the time for the world, led by the U.S., to have an effective military threat against the Iranian regime, if it will continue its nuclear program”. He added that “we will strike at whomever threatens us… That is what we have always done, and what we will continue to do in the future”. Commenting on the U.S. maximum pressure policy, the foreign minister indicated that “we see the demonstrations in Iraq, Lebanon and also in Iran, and it is clear that the pressure is working… the public in the Arab states and in Iran itself are rising against Iran’s brutal oppression”. He further underscored that “we have no conflict with the Gulf states, and we have common interests in the field of security against the Iranian threat”.

Addressing the IAEA Board of Governors, Iran’s representative maintained that “Saudi Arabia, as a country with a very non-transparent nuclear program, while is a party to the NPT and has a bilateral Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) in force with the IAEA, regrettably it still has a so- called Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) in force that exempts the country from the obligation of hosting IAEA safeguards inspections”. He went on to add that “such irresponsible behavior of Saudi Arabia is also rewarded by the Trump administration under [a] transactional and profit-centered approach to foreign policy-making, which approved the transfer of nuclear know-how to Saudi Arabia seven times”.

King Salman revealed that “the Kingdom was subject to attacks, in which 286 ballistic missiles and 289 drones were used”. He added that “the [September 2019] sabotage attacks on our oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, in which Iranian weapons were used, showed the level of frustration reached by the Iranian regime, uniting the world in the face of this criminal aggression”.

President Trump informed congressional leaders that “to assure our partners, deter further Iranian provocative behaviour and bolster regional defensive capabilities, additional U.S. Armed Forces have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East”. He further explained that “additional forces ordered to deploy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia include radar and missile systems to improve defences against air and missile threats in the region, an air expeditionary wing to support the operation of U.S. fighter aircraft from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and two fighter squadrons”. “With these additional forces”, Trump added, “the total number of U.S. Armed Forces personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be approximately 3,000”.

The Huthis detained, and subsequently released, three vessels. Two of the ships were South Korean; the other was a Saudi tug.

During a visit to the UAE, a senior U.S. military official asserted that “here in the Gulf we face a common adversary [ie, Iran] that seems committed to malign behaviour across the region”, adding that “the reaction time for an Iranian ballistic missile attack to the northern most point in the Arabian Gulf is single digit minutes. And no one country has everything you need to defend itself”. The official went on to contend that “when a missile or a UAV is in route from Iran, can we agree that is not the time to start reconciling past grievances. That time is now, today… together have exactly what we need for collective defence”.  

The U.S. co-chaired a meeting of the Warsaw Process Working Group on Missile Proliferation in Romania. The group discussed “dangerous trends associated with the proliferation of missile-related goods and technologies in the Middle East and resulting contribution to regional instability”. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE were listed as having “contributed to the working group summary statement”.

Iran’s army chief maintained that “we need an interregional security and not false coalitions. It is time to drive foreign forces out of the region”. “The security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf region can only be achieved through cooperation of the Persian Gulf littoral states… developments in recent years have shown that foreign powers cannot be reliable for regional countries”, he added.

Iranian President Rouhani claimed that “[a] strategic mistake in the world of Islam occurs when some consider Israel as their friend. It is very unfortunate that some Islamic countries that have to stand up for the interests of the world of Islam and their nation extended the hand of friendship towards the Zionist regime and even use its intelligence against the Muslim nations and the resistance movement”. “The problem is within us and we must reform within; we must solve the problems that they have created for us within the Muslim world”, Rouhani added, further asserting that “Israel and the U.S. are not anybody’s fiends but we are friends of the people of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and the people of the region”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson emphasised that “the Islamic Republic has always highlighted the importance of dialogue and political talks as the only way to solve problems in the region and will use all its power to create atmosphere for talks among the regional countries”. He added that “Iran hopes that the regional countries would accept the Hormuz Peace Endeavour and start comprehensive regional talks to root out division and take practical steps in line with settling crises”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted with respect to Iran that “we’ve denied them resources. We’ve been very effective at that. There’s still an awful lot of work to do. And we have, at the same time, tried to ensure that there was adequate level of deterrence, and we’ve seen that Iran is determined to inflict harm not only on its neighbours, but the world by taking down… five-plus per cent of world’s energy supply”. Pompeo added that “President Trump understands that the driver of instability in the Middle East is, in fact, the Islamic Republic of Iran…the U.S. and Israel are working together along with our friends in the Gulf, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the Bahrainis and others to try our best to ensure that there’s adequate levels of deterrence [against Iran] and make sure that the Iranian leadership knows that we will not tolerate their continued creation of instability in the region”.

The U.S. Department of State announced that “the U.S. hosted a Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA) General Conference”, attended by senior officials from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other members of the alliance. According to the statement, “the conference included discussions on the situation in Syria, air defense in the Arabian Peninsula, and a summary of recent multilateral collaboration, including the development of a MESA Counterterrorism Strategy and the formation of the MESA political framework”.

President Rouhani assessed that “it was because of the pressure from the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and the Saudi money, as they themselves said, that Trump was forced to withdraw from the [nuclear] deal… This indicates the importance of the JCPOA and that they saw it so dangerous for their own purposes”. Rouhani added that “Iran did not withdraw from the deal and waited a year and gave the other sides several opportunities, and today no one in the world can blame Iran for reducing its commitments”. “The path we have chosen”, he continued, “is resistance, steadfastness and reducing our JCPOA commitments alongside negotiating with the world… we have not abandoned the option of negotiation and we have not relied solely on it. We have agreed on the principles in the negotiation process now, but we have disagreements on how they should be implemented”.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) determined that “with regard to the Persian Gulf littoral states, which have adopted a new approach to the use of nuclear technology, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for scientific cooperation and transfer of experiences”. 

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, asserted that “in keeping with Iran’s foreign policy that posits our neighbours should always come first, regional cooperation remains a priority”. “We hope this cooperation can be welcomed by neighbours to our south, too”, he added.

A senior Kuwaiti diplomat confirmed that his government had relayed Iranian messages on regional developments to Riyadh and Manama, though “until now no answers have emerged”.

Iran’s government spokesperson confirmed that “[President] Rouhani has sent letters to the Saudi king on peace in the region… the theme of the letters has been regional peace and stability”. He went on to indicate that “we believe that multiple bilateral ties could be shaped in the region, and the U.S. pressures should not cause a distance between the neighbours”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that the Huthis had shot down a U.S. drone in Asir province.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, emphasised that “[Iran] would like to turn the Huthis into their proxy right on Saudi’s southern border so that they’re able to attack at will through the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE”. Referring to the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities, Hook stated that “it was a mistake for the Huthis [to claim credit]. I think they recognised it. They were embarrassed by it. They were surprised by it. So we’ll use this opening to press our advantage. And that’s why I think we’re seeing some positive developments in Yemen”.

A Iranian official revealed that “thanks to the negotiations by the Iranian foreign ministry with Saudi officials, [19] fishermen [detained by Saudi Arabia]… are on their way back home”.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and four other members of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against “25 targets affiliated with the Iranian regime’s terror-support networks in the region”. According to the Treasury Department, the designation was “focussed on entities supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s regional proxy, Hizbollah”. Secretary Mnuchin commented that “this action demonstrates the unified position of the Gulf nations and the U.S. that Iran will not be allowed to escalate its malign activity in the region”.  

A senior Saudi official reiterated that “we think that appeasement doesn’t work [with Iran]. Actions count, not words. Members of the Iranian government talk, but have no power. Those who have, like the Revolutionary Guards, don’t want to negotiate”. “As far as we’re concerned”, he added, “maximum pressure is the only way”.

In an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper met with King Salman and  the Saudi deputy defence minister. During the visit, responding to a question on the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia, Secretary Esper told reporters that “there are three tasks here: first, help the Saudis defend themselves against Iran; secondly, deter Iranian bad behaviour; and third, hold up the international rules-based order”. He further added that “the fact that the Saudis are going to underwrite that is something that we expect of all of our partners and allies, whether it's Asia or Europe, is to help share the cost, share the burden of either housing, hosting our troops on their land or supporting them in deployments, whatever the case may be”. On Syria, responding to a question on the future of the U.S. forces withdrawn from Syria to Iraq, Secretary Esper stated that “eventually, their destination is home.”

A senior Saudi official indicated that Saudi Arabia is “convinced through evidence it has that Iran is involved in the Aramco attacks” and “the missiles that had hit the Saudi oil facilities were Iranian”.

In remarks to the meeting at the Security and Defence Conference of GCC chiefs of staff and other countries including the U.S., Germany and France, a senior Saudi military official maintained that “today’s meeting aims to find appropriate ways for joint military cooperation to ensure the protection of vital and sensitive facilities, as the region continues to suffer from ongoing crises since the time the regime came to power following (1979) revolution in Iran, which aims to export the revolution to other countries, in contradiction with international conventions and treaties”. He further accused Iran of “spreading chaos by using religious sectarianism to serve political objectives, adopting and supporting loyal armed groups and forming parties and militias that contribute to destabilizing security and stability in several countries in the region”.

A senior U.S. diplomat met with the President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and other officials in the international recognised government of Yemen in Riyadh. The U.S. official “reaffirmed U.S. support for the unity of Yemen” and “stressed that a political solution is the only path to a peaceful, prosperous, stable and unified Yemen”. 

In Riyadh, a senior State Department official met with senior Saudi officials and highlighted the “shared commitment to work with regional partners to counter Iran’s malign influence, and promote security and stability throughout the region”.

President Rouhani stated that “we have no problem with the resolution of regional problems with regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, through dialogue”, further noting that “relations between Tehran and the UAE have been better in recent months, and the trend is towards better relations”.

President Rouhani contended that “what happened in the Red Sea when our tanker was targeted [on 11 October] has caused problems that hopefully our investigations will soon reach a conclusion. What is certain is that a regime has done this with the help of some countries, how and when is not clear yet and we are finalising the investigations”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that Iran “is always ready, with or without a mediator, to hold talks with its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, so that if there is any misunderstanding, it could be cleared”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson confirmed that an “Iranian tanker has sustained damages after being targeted twice, at half-hourly intervals, from a place near its shipping route in the east of the Red Sea” on 10 October. He also indicated that “over the past few months, other acts of sabotage have been launched against Iranian oil tankers in the Red Sea”. Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani asserted that “piracy and evil deeds in international waterways, which are carried out with the aim of making commercial ships’ sailing insecure, will not go unanswered”. A senior Saudi official on 13 October disavowed any involvement, stating that “we did not engage in such behaviour at all. This is not how we operate… the story is still not complete. So let’s wait and find out what happened before we jump to conclusions”.

The Pentagon announced “the deployment of additional U.S. forces and …two fighter squadrons, one Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), two Patriot batteries and one Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD)” to Saudi Arabia, noting that “taken together with other deployments this constitutes an additional 3,000 forces that have been extended or authorised within the last month”. Secretary of Defense Esper stated that “Saudi Arabia has asked for additional support to supplement their own defences and defend the international rules-based order”, adding that “we thought it was important to continue to deploy forces to deter and defend, and to send the message to the Iranians: do not strike another sovereign state, do not threaten American interests, American forces, or we will respond… do not mistake our restraint for weakness. If you will, you will regret that”. Secretary of State Pompeo also noted that “the Iranian regime must fundamentally change its behaviour and act like a normal nation. Or it can watch its economy collapse”. Commenting on the deployments, President Trump indicated that “Saudi Arabia, at my request, has agreed to pay us for everything we’re doing”.

Referring to 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, Saudi Aramco's Chief Executive contended that “an absence of international resolve to take concrete action may embolden the attackers and indeed put the world's energy security at greater risk

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo and Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman spoke about “the importance of bilateral cooperation to confront the Iranian regime’s continued destabilising activities in the region”, with Pompeo affirming “that Saudi Arabia has every right to defend itself and its borders”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that “in a situation where the Saudis would like to negotiate with Iran, if they pursue regional issues at the negotiating table and not by killing people, they will certainly have the Islamic Republic along with them”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that “recently I have been promoting, with the backing of the prime minister, a diplomatic initiative to sign ‘non-aggression agreements’ with the Arab Gulf states… it’s a historic move that will end the conflict and enable civilian cooperation until the signing of peace agreements”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that two Huthi ballistic missiles landed inside Yemeni territory.

A senior U.S. military official assessed with respect to the Iranians that “I don’t believe that they’re drawing back at all” since the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities, which he asserted was carried out to “send a signal and harass and provoke”. Referring to U.S.-led maritime security operations, the official indicated that “what [Operation] Sentinel seeks to do is shine a flashlight across that and make sure that if anything happens in the maritime, they will be exposed for that activity… we’ve created essentially a zone defence”.

Senior Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) military officials met in Riyadh, and in a joint statement “affirmed the readiness of the armed forces of all GCC countries to confront and deal with any threats or terrorist attacks”. They further “condemned the attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s oil tankers and the threat of free navigation, confirming their support for the efforts of the Kingdom and the GCC countries in confronting any threat or aggression against them”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that "we have always said that we seek understanding with our neighbours. We are not seeking tension. If the Saudi government arrives at the conclusion that it can't achieve security by buying weapons and relinquishing its sovereignty to others in the process, it will be surely welcomed with open arms by Iran".  

Iran's military chief of staff indicated that Iran was providing the Huthis "advisory and intellectual assistance and the IRGC is in charge of this". He also asserted that "we will stand by the Yemeni people until they completely ward off the aggressions". 

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson announced that “Iran welcomes the Yemeni National Salvation Government’s proposal and considers it to be in favour of the establishment of stability and security in the region”. He went on to say that “sadly, Saudi Arabia is still seeking to fan the flames and continues to bombard different parts of Yemen” and called on “the Saudi government to accept this offer”.

Following Huthi claims of capturing “thousands” of troops from the Saudi-led coalition in an operation in Najran, the coalition’s spokesperson asserted that “it is definitely fabricated. They are making up events and trying to influence the popular opinion in Yemen, the region and the world”.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi stated that “nobody possesses the weapons necessary to deal their adversary a fatal blow. Chaos and destruction will hit the region in its entirety”. He went on to say that “everybody is open to dialogue. Iran says [it is] willing to negotiate if sanctions are lifted; the U.S. [also] asks for dialogue ... neither does Saudi Arabia close the door for dialogue”. He also indicated that “there are many countries, and Iraq is one of them, that can offer a solution or a place for a solution to be found”.

An Iranian official indicated that the Saudis “have sent messages to Mr. Rouhani through a head of state… we must see signs of it [goodwill] without any ambiguity, and the first sign of it is to stop the aggression against Yemen and put an end to the massacre of Yemenis”. He added that “if they genuinely sought to change their behaviour, we would welcome that”. A senior Saudi official subsequently indicated that "the Kingdom did not and will not talk with the Iranians. Yemen is the affair of the Yemenis... and the reason behind the Yemeni crisis is the Iranian destabilising role of its stability and disruptive role in the political efforts". He also contended that Iran "provides its followers with weapons and missiles targeting the sons of Yemen and the security of the Kingdom and the countries of the region as part of the approach of this expansionist regime seeking to impose its control on Arab countries through its militias". He additionally advised Iran to "stop your support for terrorism, policies of chaos and destruction, interference in the internal affairs of Arab states, development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile program. Act like a normal state and not a rogue one supporting terrorism". 

A senior IRGC official asserted that “Yemen’s deterrent power in the face of enemies has become clear after the reactions to Al Saud’s attacks, and the enemies are also mindful that they will be harmed if they take any action against that country”.

A senior U.S. naval official was in Riyadh for discussions with Saudi counterparts on "our mutual efforts going forward to coordinate defence against provocation and attack". 

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Bahrain’s foreign minister remarked that “the adoption of the Iranian regime of transitional terrorism has created networks of terrorist organisations and extremist militias, located in many places and different parts of the world such as Syria, Yemen, North Africa, the countries of the Sahara and the Sahel, South America and others. This requires us to intensify our efforts and enhance collective cooperation in order to eliminate them and prevent their return in any form”. He also applauded “the decisive course taken by the friendly U.S. in confronting Iran and its affiliates in the region, through exerting maximum pressure and imposing strict sanctions”. He went on to assert that “global energy supplies and maritime navigation in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the region as a whole are severely threatened by the behaviour of the Iranian regime and its frequent targeting of commercial vessels in the region”, adding condemnation of the 14 September attacks on Saudi energy facilities “which Iran bears responsibility for”.  

President Rouhani remarked that “the Yemeni people have a right to self-defence and they have to defend themselves, and the whole world knows that the Yemeni forces and the Yemeni army have both long-range missiles and drones”. Rouhani went on to “urge the U.S., France, Britain and Germany, who are constantly giving arms to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates to kill the Yemeni people, to stop sending weapons and to pressurise Saudi Arabia and the UAE for peace”.

Referring to the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo argued that Iran “took an act clearly, highly attributable. They had to know that the world would determine that it was them that conducted this strike. They didn’t use their usual method of trying to obscure this through use of a proxy force”. He added that “they had to know it was the case that the world would rally against them, and yet they still chose to do it”.

The Pentagon announced the deployment of “one Patriot battery, four Sentinel radars [and] approximately 200 support personnel” to Saudi Arabia to “augment the kingdom's air and missile defence of critical military and civilian infrastructure”. The department’s spokesperson commented that “other countries have called out Iranian misadventures in the region, and we look for them to contribute assets in an international effort to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s defence”.

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami argued that “our power is such that when a group like Ansar Allah carries out an operation, the enemy thinks it has been done by us”. He added that the Huthis were “a mutated branch of the revolution…They are an accumulated source of power that, if released, will change the whole battlefield and the enemy knows this reality”.

Referring to the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that “very simply: Iran did it. A to Z”.  He added that “Israel will know to defend itself against this type of aggression. And we call on all members of the international community to join President Trump's effort to increase the pressure on Iran. That's the only way to stop Iran's aggression”.

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reiterated that “the international community has a great responsibility to put an end to Iranian acts of aggression and sabotage policies, pointing out that the [14 September] sabotage attack on the oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, and the use of Iranian weapons in it is a threat to international peace and security and an unjustified aggression on energy supplies to world markets”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three Huthi missiles inside the Yemeni airspace.

A senior Saudi official contended that “we are certain it [the 14 September attack on Saudi energy facilities] came from the north. Once the investigation is complete, we will make the announcements and we will pin the blame. But we believe Iran is responsible because these were Iranian weapons”. He went on to say that “our position is we have to be firm with Iran. We have to come up with options on how we increase the pressure on the Iranians. You have a whole list of potential options: diplomatic, economic and military”. The official added that “the Iranians are warmongering, not us. The Iranians are the ones who launched 260 ballistic missiles on Saudi Arabia and more than 150 drones. We did not launch any ballistic missiles, any drones. We did not plant any terrorist cells in Iran and we didn’t even fire one bullet in the direction of Iran… so we’re on the receiving end”.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman argued that the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities “didn’t hit the heart of the Saudi energy industry, but rather the heart of the global energy industry”, adding that the Iranians carried out the operation because of “stupidity. There is no strategic goal… the only strategic goal is to prove that they are stupid and that is what they did”. Bin Salman also stated that “if the world does not take a strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests. Oil supplies will be disrupted and oil prices will jump to unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes”. Bin Salman also posited that a “political and peaceful solution is much better than the military one”, while asserting that “it is the Iranians who don’t want to sit at the table” with President Trump. On Yemen, Bin Salman stated that “if Iran stops its support of the Huthi militia, the political solution will be much easier”.

In a statement, France, Germany, and the UK jointly “condemn[ed] in the strongest terms the attacks on oil facilities on Saudi territory on September 14th, 2019 in Abqaiq and Khurais”. They further declared that “it is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack. There is no other plausible explanation. We support ongoing investigations to establish further details”. The E3 also urged Iran “to reverse its decisions to reduce compliance with the deal and to adhere fully to its commitments under it”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded that the “E3's paralysis in fulfilling their obligations without U.S. permission has been clear since May 2018”. He added that the “solution to this deficiency is mustering will to forge an independent path—not parroting absurd U.S. claims and requests inconsistent with the JCPOA”. Zarif went on to posit that there would be “no new deal before compliance with the current one”. In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry contended that “attributing the responsibility to the third government for an attack carried out in the course of a full-scale war between the Saudi and Yemeni sides is per se a provocative and extremely destructive move”. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo responded by saying that “the U.S. thanks our close friends, UK, France, and Germany, for their clear articulation of Iran’s sole responsibility for the act of war against Saudi Arabia and its impact on the region and the world… this will strengthen diplomacy and the cause of peace”.

Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities “was an attack by Iran on the world. This was an act of war”. He went on state that “apparently, the Iranians are bloodthirsty and looking for war. President Trump and I, we’re looking for a diplomatic resolution to this… but make no mistake about it: we’re prepared to do the things we need to do to try to deter Iran from this kind of behaviour”. Pompeo added that sanctions “will deny them the resources to foment the exact kind of strikes that we have seen over this past summer”, and also contended that the Iranian people “will demand that their leadership behave in a way that reflects the great history of this place”.

Foreign Minister Zarif described the U.S. decision to bolster its forces in Saudi Arabia as “posturing”, and added that he was “confident that Iran did not play a role” in the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities. Zarif also noted in passing that “the Israelis are attacking parts of [the] Iraqi military”. He went on to state that “we’re ready to talk [with President Trump]… we need to talk about something that is permanent. That would last”. Zarif additionally warned that “I’m not confident that we can avoid a war… I’m confident that we will not start one but I’m confident that whoever starts one will not be the one who finishes it”.

Foreign Minister Zarif argued that “since the Saudi regime has blamed Iran – baseless as that is – for the [14 September] attacks on its oil facilities, curious that they retaliated against Hodeida in Yemen today—breaking a UN ceasefire. It is clear that even the Saudis themselves don't believe the fiction of Iranian involvement”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “Saudi Arabia is highly advised to stop the war on Yemen instead of seeking to purchase advanced air defence missile systems. All costly weapons purchased [from] the U.S. cannot protect you from [Huthi] drone attacks”. Nasrallah added that “a military aggression on Iran will never be to the benefit of Saudi Arabia and the UAE”.

U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper asserted that “in recent months, Iran has increased its military activity through direct attacks and support to its proxies in the region”, adding that “all indications are that Iran was responsible for the attack” against Saudi energy facilities on 14 September. Esper announced that “in response to the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia’s] request, the president has approved the deployment of U.S. forces, which will be defensive in nature and primarily focussed on air and missile defence. We will also work to accelerate the delivery of military equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enhance their ability to defend themselves”.

On a trip Saudi Arabia and the UAE following the 14 September attack on Saudi energy facilities, Secretary of State Pompeo declared that “it’s abundantly clear and there is an enormous consensus in the region that we know precisely who conducted these attacks. It was Iran. I didn’t hear anybody in the region who doubted that for a single moment”. He also indicated that “we’re here to build out a coalition aimed at achieving peace and a peaceful resolution to this”, adding that “there will be more sanctions. We have set about a course of action to deny Iran the capacity and the wealth… to prevent them from conducting their terror campaigns. And you can see from the events of last week there’s still more work to do”.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had foiled “an attempt by Iran-affiliated Huthi terrorist militias to carry out an imminent hostile and terrorist act in the south of [the] Red Sea by using a remote-controlled booby-trapped boat”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned that a clash between Iran and the U.S. or Saudi Arabia would result in “all-out war”. Zarif added that “we don’t want war, we don’t want to engage in a military confrontation… but we won’t blink to defend our territory”.

President Rouhani suggested that “the Yemeni nation was not the source of the conflict but it was Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Americans, some European countries and the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] that began the war and destroyed Yemen”. He also contended, referring to the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities, that “the Yemenis did not target a school, hospital or market, but they attacked an industrial centre to warn their enemies”. “Iran”, Rouhani added, “has never started to cut ties and disrupt relations, and if even those who have cut ties step forward, we would like to have good relations with all the nations of the region and with our neighbours”. In related remarks, Defence Minister Amir Hatami stated that “a clash has occurred between two countries. One side of the clash are the Yemenis, who have announced explicitly that they have done the job”.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed “the unprecedented attacks against Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure” on 14 September. Pompeo stated that “the U.S. stands with Saudi Arabia and supports its right to defend itself. The Iranian regime’s threatening behaviour will not be tolerated”.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo remarked that the 14 September attack on Saudi energy facilities “didn’t come from the Huthis…This was an Iranian attack. It’s not the case that you can subcontract out the devastation of five per cent of the world’s global energy supply and think that you can absolve yourself of responsibilities”. Pompeo also indicated that “we are working to build out a coalition to develop a plan to deter” Iran. He went on to assert that “some suggest that the President’s strategy that we allowed isn’t working. I would argue just the converse of that. I would argue that what you are seeing here is a direct result of us reversing the enormous failure of the JCPOA”. Pompeo added that “55 weeks from now, the whole world can sell exactly these missile systems, conventional missile systems to the Iranian government unencumbered by any sanctions… they’d have more complex ones but for the sanctions we put in place”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif seized on Pompeo’s characterisation of the 14 September attack as an “act of war” to posit “’act of war’ or agitation for war? Remnants of the B-Team (and ambitious allies) try to deceive President Trump into war”. Zarif also suggested “seizing [the] opportunity to end disaster in Yemen – not widening it”.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson announced that the 14 September attack on Saudi oil facilities “was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran. We are working to know the exact launch point”. He added that the attack “did not originate from Yemen despite Iran's best efforts to make it appear so”.

Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA)  members convened in Washington and “condemn[ed] in the strongest terms the attack on the Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia on September 14 which sought to disrupt oil markets and regional stability”.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif argued that the “U.S. is in denial if it thinks that Yemeni victims of 4.5 years of the worst war crimes wouldn't do all to strike back. Perhaps it's embarrassed that $100s of billions of its arms didn't intercept Yemeni fire”. He added that “blaming Iran won't change that. Ending the war is the only solution for all”. Zarif further stated that “the U.S. isn’t upset when its allies mercilessly bomb babies in Yemen for over four years—with its arms and its military assistance. But it is terribly upset when the victims react the only way they can—against the aggressor's oil refineries”.

Vice President Pence asserted that following the 14 September “unprovoked attack on several oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, I promise you: We’re ready… we’re locked and loaded. And we’re ready to defend our interests and our allies in the region”. Pence added that “our maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian regime is working. But know this: if Iran conducted this latest attack to pressure President Trump to back off, they will fail. America is ready to defend our interests”.

Saudi Arabia signed on the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct.

Commenting on the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities, President Rouhani stated that “this problem has its roots in the Yemeni invasion. We must ask those who invaded Yemen and are bombing it daily why they did it… they have destroyed Yemen and killed a large number of Yemenis, and the Yemeni people have to respond to this [sic] many acts of aggression and guns coming from the U.S. and Europe to Saudi Arabia and the UAE".

In a statement on the 14 September attacks against Aramco facilities, the Saudi government said that “initial investigations have indicated that the weapons used in the attack were Iranian weapons”, adding that “investigations are still ongoing to determine the source of the attack”.

In a statement on the 14 September attacks against Aramco facilities, the Saudi government said that “initial investigations have indicated that the weapons used in the attack were Iranian weapons”, adding that “investigations are still ongoing to determine the source of the attack”.

Asked about Iran’s possible involvement in 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, U.S. President Trump replied that “we’re having some very strong studies done, but it’s certainly looking that way at this moment… we have a lot of options, but I’m not looking at options right now. We want to find definitively who did this”. He also asserted that “the Saudis want very much for us to protect them, but I say, well, we have to work. That was an attack on Saudi Arabia, and that wasn’t an attack on us. But we would certainly help them”. The Iranians, Trump indicated, “want to meet”, adding that “the sanctions are not going to be taken off”.  

President Trump asserted that “Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!” In a subsequent tweet, Trump maintained that “the Fake News is saying that I am willing to meet with Iran, ‘No Conditions’. That is an incorrect statement (as usual!)”

The Saudi government confirmed that “several explosions occurred as a result of terrorist attacks in Saudi Aramco plants in Khurais and Abqaiq… according to preliminary estimates, these explosions led to the interruption of a quantity of crude oil supplies estimated at 5.7 million barrels, or about 50 per cent of the company’s production”. The Huthis took responsibility for the operation, which they claimed was carried out using “tens of drones”. President Trump subsequently spoke to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and, according to a Saudi readout of the conversation, “reasserted his country’s readiness to cooperate with the Kingdom, by all means conducive to maintain its security and stability”. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo stated that “Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy. Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply. There is no evidence the attacks came from Yemen”. He further called on “all nations to publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s attacks. The U.S. will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded saying that “having failed at ‘maximum pressure’, Secretary Pompeo is turning to ‘max deceit’”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Najran.

The Arab Quartet Ministerial Committee for Follow-up of the Crisis with Iran and Response to its Interventions in Arab Internal Affairs, chaired by the UAE and including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, “condemned Iran's continued support for terrorist and subversive acts in the Arab countries, including the continued firing of Iranian-made ballistic missiles from Yemeni territory into populated cities in the Kingdom”. It also denounced remarks by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s as “intended to provoke sedition and incite hatred; and which is an extension of the dangerous role of this terrorist party, which is considered as one of the arms of Iran aiming to destabilise the security and stability in the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded that “the rehash of groundless accusations against [Iran’s] eternal ownership of its three islands in the Persian Gulf and the blame game by some Arab countries whose regional policies have failed are… the reason behind their failure to understand the realities of the region and the world”. He went on to say that “it is regrettable that some, instead of relying on the power of Persian Gulf states, make divergent, unfounded and undocumented allegations about the security of the region and welcome foreigners with their desperation”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, argued that “Iran is using Yemen to increase its status as a regional power… Iran has provided the Huthis with hundreds of millions of dollars and an arsenal of advanced weaponry”. “Iran’s strategic alliance with the Huthis”, Hook wrote, “allows them to target Gulf nations at will with missile and UAV attacks, and to inspire, organise, and direct militant separatist groups in Saudi Arabia’s provinces”. He also posited that Iran’s “alliance with the Huthis now allows Iran to threaten ship traffic in the Bab al-Mandab strait”, and indicated that “newly declassified information shows that Hizbollah is actively supporting the Huthi cause in Yemen, bringing Iran’s proxy network full circle”. Hook went on to underscore that “the Trump administration is focused on reversing Iran’s strategic gains in the region as part of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign”, and contended that “the Huthis have little gain and a lot to lose by continuing their partnership with Iran”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi ballistic missile reportedly bound for Najran.

Saudi Arabia downed a ballistic missile reportedly bound for Najran, and intercepted a Huthi drone it said was bound for Khamis Mushait.

Saudi Arabia downed a trio of ballistic missiles in Najran and intercepted two Huthi drones, one of which was reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo met with Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and “reiterated U.S. support for a negotiated resolution between the Republic of Yemen government and the Southern Transitional Council”. They additionally discussed “the need for stronger maritime security in order to promote freedom of navigation [and] the Iranian regime’s destabilising activities in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones, one inside Yemeni airspace and the second reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait. The coalition also asserted that a ballistic missile fired by the Huthis had landed within Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones inside Yemeni airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted six ballistic missiles purportedly bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait and Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

A senior Saudi official confirmed that “a processing unit of Shaybah’s natural gas plant was targeted by explosive-laden [Huthi] drones, resulting in a limited fire”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone inside Yemeni airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Abha.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Jizan.

Secretary of State Pompeo spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed “maritime security, Yemen, countering the Iranian regime’s destabilising activity and human rights”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

Reacting to a Huthi attack on a military parade in Aden, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen stated that “the synchronised targeting by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthis and its terrorist sister groups ISIS and AQAP of the security and stability of the interim capital Aden proves their unity of objective: bloodshed and non-recognition of State, laws and inviolability of man”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that “we have always expressed our interest in communication with neighboring states. But it’s only possible when they give up interference in domestic affairs of other countries”. He added that “if Saudi Arabia is ready for talks, we are ready as well. We have never closed the door of negotiation with our neighbors and won’t do so”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition reportedly intercepted multiple Huthi drones bound for Asir.

Referring to the recent incidents, Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers stated that “any infringement on the freedom of international maritime navigation is considered a violation of the international law, and the international community must take the necessary action to reject and deter it”.

Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, stated that  “any attack on the freedom of navigation is a violation of international law. Iran must realize that its acts of intercepting ships, including most recently the British ship, are completely unacceptable”. He further asserted that “the world community must take actions to deter such behaviour”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson announced that “Iran appreciates efforts by the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Oman to secure the safe return of Iran’s Happiness 1 oil tanker”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Abha.

U.S. Central Command announced and Saudi Arabia confirmed that “in coordination with and at the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Secretary of Defense has authorized the movement of U.S. personnel and resources to deploy to Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three Huthi drones reportedly bound for Jizan and Abha.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait and downed another inside Yemen’s airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “the Huthis attempted to attack a commercial ship south of the Red Sea using a booby-trapped boat with explosives”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted drones purportedly bound for an airport in Jizan.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remarked that “Hajj is a political act and this political act is identically a religious obligation. That they prohibit such political acts is itself a political move, but an anti-religious one. That they say you have no right to talk against the U.S. is a Satanic political act”. He further said that “the Saudi government bears major responsibilities. Among their responsibilities is providing security for the pilgrims but they should not create a security atmosphere”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a Huthi attack against Abha airport injured nine civilians. The U.S. State Department's spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, condemned the attack and asserted that “we stand firmly with our Saudi partners in defending their borders against these continued threats by the Huthis, who rely on Iranian-made weapons and technology to carry out such attacks”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia within Yemen’s airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones; one was reportedly bound for Jizan while the second was said to have been bound for Asir.

The Saudi-led coalition downed a Huthi drone, said to be bound for Saudi Arabia, inside Yemeni airspace.  

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UK and the UAE released a joint statement conveying “concern over escalating tensions in the region and the dangers posed by Iranian destabilising activity to peace and security both in Yemen and the broader region”. The statement went on to “call on Iran to halt any further actions which threaten regional stability, and urge diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a Huthi attack on Abha International Airport left one killed and seven injured. Secretary of State Pompeo condemned the attack and contended that “some want to portray the Yemen conflict as an isolated civil war, without a clear aggressor. It is neither. It is spreading conflict and humanitarian disaster that was conceived of and perpetuated by the Islamic Republic of Iran… With every attack conducted by an Iranian proxy, the regime tacks another day onto its forty-year track record of spreading death and chaos in the region, and beyond”. He went on to reiterate that “we will continue our pressure campaign until Iran stops its torrent of violence and meets diplomacy with diplomacy”.

In Riyadh, the U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that “Iran’s efforts to use surrogates to attack Saudi Arabia and destabilise the region needs to be countered”. He added that “our diplomacy does not give Iran the right to respond with military force, Iran needs to meet our diplomacy with diplomacy and not military force… it’s important we do everything we can do de-escalate”. Saudi Vice Minister of Defence, Khalid bin Salman, reiterated his government’s “support for the U.S. maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which came as a result of continuing Iranian hostility and terrorism”, also underlining “the dangerous role that the Iranian regime plays in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a projectile fired by the Huthis hit a desalination plant in Jizan, causing no casualties or damage.  

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi drones; one was reportedly bound for Abha while the second was downed before it entered Saudi airspace.

Saudi media reported that “Iranian experts and other Huthi militants were killed during a failed attempt to launch a ballistic missile” in Sanaa.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman declared that Saudi Arabia "does not want a war in the region, but we will not hesitate in dealing with any threat against our people, sovereignty and vital interests". He went on to state that "Iran's recklessness has reached unprecedented levels", adding that "Iran must choose between becoming a normal country that plays a constructive role in the international community or remain a rogue state and assume the international consequences of its choice". Bin Salman also stressed that "the Huthi militias prioritise Iran's agenda over the interests of Yemen and its people", arguing that attacks against the Kingdom "reflect the priorities of Tehran, not Sanaa". 

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone bound for Abha. 

Saudi Arabia announced that its military had "successfully intercepted and destroyed five unmanned drone aircraft launched by Huthi militia towards Abha International Airport and Khamis Mushait". 

Following Secretary of State Pompeo's assertion that "Iran is responsible for the attacks that occurred in the Gulf of Oman today", a senior Saudi official indicated that "we have no reason to disagree... Iran has a history of doing this". 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that "a hostile projectile fired by the Huthi militia hit the arrivals hall at Abha International Airport", injuring 26. 

Appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a senior State Department official explained that Secretary Pompeo's 24 May emergency notification on arms sales was spurred by "the significant increase in the intelligence threat streams related to Iran; the clear, provocative and damaging actions taken by Iran's government; and the need to respond to military capability requests from our partners". He also offered his endorsement of the CENTCOM commander's assessment describing "the threats posed by Iran as clear, compelling, very real and possibly imminent". 

Saudi Arabia shot down a pair of Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait. 

In a briefing to the UN Security Council regarding the 12 May tanker incident, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Norway assessed that "the four attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out by an actor with significant operational capacity, most likely a state actor". The Saudi envoy subsequently asserted that "the responsibility for this action lies on the shoulders of Iran. We have no hesitation in making this statement". 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif contended that "Western publics and legislatures demand an end to the humanitarian disaster that is the Saudi-Emirati war on Yemen. But their governments provide ever more weapons used to perpetuate war crimes". "Time and again", Zarif added, "our offers of a political way out have been rebuffed. This evil cycle must stop". 

Following a request by Iran, the Saudi-led coalition evacuated a stricken sailor from an Iranian vessel off the Yemeni coast. 

As Saudi Arabia hosted summits of the OIC, GCC and the Arab League, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson contended that “we deem the Saudi efforts to mobilise the views of neighbouring and Arab countries a continuation of the indecisive process that the U.S. and the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] are pursuing against the Islamic Republic of Iran”. He further stressed that “Saudi Arabia took political and instrumental advantage of the auspicious month of Ramadan and the holy city of Mecca to make accusations against the Islamic Iran from the mouth of some participants in the conference”.

Chairing an emergency session of the GCC Supreme Council in Mecca, King Salman reiterated that “the Iranian regime's support for terrorism over four decades and threat to security and stability in order to expand its influence and hegemony are an act rejected by international norms and conventions”. “The lack of a deterrent and firm stance to confront the subversive activities of the Iranian regime in the region”, King Salman asserted, “has led the Iranian regime to continue and escalate these activities as we see today”. He demanded “the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the threat posed by Iranian practices”. In separate remarks to the Arab League, King Salman posited that “the hand of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will always be extended for cooperation and dialogue … to enhance development and prosperity and achieve lasting peace for the countries and peoples of the region, including the Iranian people”.

The GCC Supreme Council issued a communique highlighting “the need that Iran spares the region the dangers of war by abiding by the international laws and conventions, stop interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region, and stop supporting terrorist groups and militias and threatening the security of maritime navigation”. The statement went on to applaud “the actions taken by the U.S. to confront Iran”.

The Arab League held an extraordinary summit in Mecca convened by King Salman “to discuss the serious repercussions” of the 12 May tanker incident off the UAE coast and 14 May drone attack against a Saudi pipeline. A final communique suggested that Iranian actions “directly and dangerously threaten the security and stability in the region”, and urged “the international community to take a firm stand against Iran and its destabilizing activities in the region”.

An Arab League communique criticised “the continuing Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, supporting terrorism, training terrorists, smuggling arms and explosives, and inciting sectarian strife to destabilise security, order and stability”.

Backing Bolton’s claims that Iran was behind the 12 May Fujairah incident, Secretary Pompeo insisted that “these were efforts by the Iranians to raise the price of crude oil throughout the world”.

In remarks to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf stated that “Tehran’s support for Huthi militias in Yemen is proof of Iranian interference in other nations’ affairs and this is something that Islamic countries should reject”. Describing the Fujairah incident and Saudi pipeline attacks earlier in the month as “terrorist attacks”, al-Assad urged that they “must be countered with determination”.

Discussing Secretary Pompeo’s 24 May emergency notification on $8.1 billion in arms sales, the U.S.’ diplomatic spokesperson opined that “due to the deteriorating situation that we saw in the region directly related to Iran of course, and their regional threats, … we had to take this action because it helps our partners better defend themselves”.

In Abu Dhabi, National Security Advisor John Bolton argued that the 12 May Fujairah incident involved “naval mines almost certainly from Iran”, adding that “it’s clear that Iran is behind the Fujairah attack”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson hit back at Bolton’s remarks, calling them “ridiculous allegation”. “Mr. Bolton and the other warmongering and bellicose ones must know that the Islamic Republic of Iran … will prevent materialization of their ominous plans for creating chaos in the region”, the spokesperson added.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson indicated that “we have documented information on the supply of missiles by the Revolutionary Guard to the Huthi militia in Yemen”. He added that “over 35 Huthi terrorist acts in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea have been foiled”, and stated that “we are planning to speed up the military pace to neutralise Huthi threats”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone allegedly attempting to target King Abdullah Airport in Jizan.

In an emergency notification, Secretary of State Pompeo "directed the Department to complete immediately the formal notification of 22 pending arms transfers to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia totaling approximately $8.1 billion to deter Iranian aggression and build partner self-defence capacity". "Today's actions", Pompeo asserted, "will quickly augment our partners' capacity to provide for their own self-defence and reinforce recent changes to U.S. posture in the region to deter Iran". 

Saudi Arabia's UN envoy urged the Security Council "to shoulder its responsibilities by taking a firm stand against the Iran-backed terrorist Huthi militias after targeting vital populated areas in the Kingdom with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles".

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone purportedly attempting to target Najran Regional Airport.

Referring to the rocket fired near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on 19 May and 12 May Fujairah incident, a senior Iranian defence official remarked that "if one day the evidence of recent events is revealed, then we will find that the Saudis, along with the United States, are the main cause". "The Saudis", he added, "are trying to undermine the security of the UAE for punishing the UAE and getting concessions and the United States is trying to exploit the mercenary countries in the region with the policy of Iranophobia". He also insisted that "we are not seeking any war, and we will not start it, but we are fully ready to defend [ourselves]".

The Saudi-led coalition asserted that "Huthi militants had tried to hit a civilian facility in Saudi Arabia's southern border province of Najran with a drone carrying explosives". 

A Saudi cabinet statement asserted that “Iran and its agents need to move away from its reckless behaviour and spare the region the risks and not push them to undesirable consequences”. The ministers also affirmed that Saudi Arabia “will do everything in its power to prevent any war, and that its hand is always extended to peace and seeks to achieve it”.

Saudi Arabia reportedly shot down a pair of Huthi missiles; media reports posited they were intended for Mecca and Jeddah but intercepted en route at Taif. Huthi leadership subsequently responded by saying that "what the Saudi regime claims about targeting Mecca is a big lie and a despicable claim... it is well-known that the criminal Saudi regime first raises false claims and then confesses to facts that it had previously concealed".

An unidentified Huthi source was cited as indicating that the 14 May drone attack against Saudi oil facilities constituted "the beginning of military operations against 300 vital military targets", which, according to the source, "included military vital headquarters and facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia as well as their bases in Yemen". 

U.S. Central Command stated that "Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations commenced enhanced security patrols across the region in international waters May 18", adding that "ships of the GCC - both navies and coast guards - are working in tight coordination with each other and the United States navy".   

A senior Huthi official, speaking one day after drone attacks against a Saudi pipeline, reportedly "denied they were acting on Iran's behalf, but were instead defending themselves against the Saudi-led" coalition.  

The Saudi government reported that "two pump stations on the East-West pipeline were attacked by armed drones which caused a fire and minor damage to Pump Station No. 8"; a senior official stressed that "these attacks prove again that it is important for us to face terrorist entities, including the Huthi militias in Yemen that are backed by Iran". A Huthi spokesperson subsequently took responsibility for the action, stating that "this is a message to Saudi Arabia, stop your aggression. Our goal is to respond to the crimes they are committing every day against the Yemeni people".  In June, media reports citing U.S. officials suggested that the drone had been launched from Iraq.

Discussing the 12 May Fujairah incident, an unnamed U.S. officials speculated that "this is what Iran does... the sort of thing you could see Iran doing". Separate reports relayed an "initial assessment" that "Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies" were culpable for damage to four vessels made by "explosive charges". 

The UAE indicated that "four commercial ships were subjected to sabotage operations... near UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman". The Saudi government announced the following day that "two Saudi oil tankers were subjected to a sabotage attack in the exclusive economic zone of the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the Emirate of Fujairah, while on their way to the Arabian Gulf... it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels". Iran's diplomatic spokesperson called the developments "concerning and regrettable". 

Saudi security forces "launched a preemptive security operation" in the east of the country, killing "eight extremists belonging to a recently-formed terrorist cell". 

In an advisory, the U.S Maritime Administration assessed that "since early May, there is an increased possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take action against U.S. and partners interests, including oil production infrastructure, after recently threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran or its proxies could respond by targeting commercial vessels, including oil tankers, or U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait or the Persian Gulf". 

CENTCOM's commander asserted that "as we witness the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, it's important to remember that Iran is behind the irresponsible behaviour that actually led to the overthrow of the government in Yemen and created the crisis we now have in Yemen. The humanitarian tragedy that we confront in Yemen is the child of Iranian ambition and their support for the Huthis in trying to create a Hizbollah-like state in Yemen". He also indicated that "the Iranian regime has smuggled ballistic missiles into Yemen and assisted with their construction and deployment. And they're employed by the Huthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as against the United Arab Emirates, threatening our partners as well as Americans who live and work there. They've also irresponsibly fired missiles into the Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, where vital commerce and oil transport occurs". 

An Iranian Hajj official asserted that "due to the severance of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, there are public concerns about the security of the Hajj. However, [in talks] with the Saudis, we have raised the issue that they should separate the Hajj from political issues, and they have accepted this in practice". 

Saudi Arabia responded to an Iranian request for assistance with a hobbled Iranian oil tanker; the vessel was routed to Jeddah. 

A 53-45 vote in the U.S. Senate was not enough to overturn President Trump's 16 April veto on continued U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. 

Secretary Pompeo explained that "were this a simple civil war in Yemen, it would be difficult to justify America having any involvement, but sadly, that's not the case. This is the terrain in which al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula exists... we have an obligation to protect America, to take down that al-Qaeda terrorist threat that is on the inside of Yemen". "Moreover", Pompeo continued, "we have the Iranians using Yemen as a platform, a platform to hold ships transiting through the strait and around and through the waters that surround Yemen, both to the south of Yemen and to the west of Yemen, holding Americans ships, ships sailing through those seas, at risk. We also have Iranian platforms... unmanned, armed aerial vehicles as well as missile systems launching missiles into Riyadh and into the Emirates, where Americans travel frequently. There are real security risks". "The Saudis have an unambiguous right to defend themselves from attacks out of Yemen", he added, "and it is not the Huthis but rather the Iranians that are responsible for that". 

A senior Saudi diplomat remarked that "any radioactive leakage puts the region at a grave and serious danger to its air, food and water desalination stations". "My country", he added, "expresses its concern about perils posed by the Bushehr nuclear plant". The official went on to call for "stricter measures against Iran in order to fulfill the ultimate aim of the NPT, which is to achieve global peace". 

Iran's diplomatic spokesperson criticised Saudi Arabia and Bahrain's endorsement of expanded U.S. sanctions against Iran, suggesting that their positions showed "blind obedience to the U.S." He added that "Iran will not allow any market to replace it in the oil market, and holds the U.S. and the aforesaid countries... accountable for all consequences". 

At a conference in Russia, a senior Saudi defence official posited that "we have to choose between the chaos that Iran spreads and stability, security and development... Iran is spreading chaos in the region through destruction and bloodshed, and by supporting the militias of Hizbollah and Huthis".  

After the Saudi government executed 37 individuals who had "adopted terrorist and extremist thinking", Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that there had been "not a whisper from the Trump administration... membership in the B-Team - Bolton, Bin Salman, Bin Zayed and 'Bibi' - gives immunity for any crime".

As the U.S. announced its intent to end oil waivers, Saudi Arabia's energy minister indicated that the government would "coordinate with fellow oil producers to ensure adequate supplies are available to consumers while ensuring the global market does not go out of balance". 

Huthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that "our missiles are capable of reaching Riyadh and beyond Riyadh, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi... it is possible to target strategic, vital, sensitive and influential targets in the event of any escalation in Hodeida". 

Saudi Arabia partnered with the UAE for "a joint initiative to alleviate the suffering of people affected by the devastating flash floods that recently hit Iran". 

Saudi state media reported that "an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome to the U.S.' classification of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation"; Bahrain similarly hailed the designation. In response, Iran's diplomatic spokesperson opined that the two countries were "not in a position to express their stances against the Islamic Republic of Iran by playing a deceitful role" adding that "they will fail to hide behind such worthless stances and deflect the world's attention away from their responsibility in promoting terrorism across the region and the world". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi drone bound for Asir. 

Responding to an interviewer's comment that "you might not like Saudi Arabia, but do you want to give Yemen to Iran?", Secretary Pompeo argued that "this has been the administration's point all along. The true threat there in the region is the Islamic Republic of Iran. We don't want to do things that benefit them". 

Commenting on Saudi Arabia's nuclear program, Secretary Pompeo asserted that "I can't tell you where the [U.S.-Saudi] negotiations sit because they're still ongoing, but make no mistake about it: we only wish that the previous administration had taken that threat seriously with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran. They cut a deal that puts Iran on a path towards nuclear weapons". "We will not permit that to happen", Pompeo added. "We will never write a $150 million check to the Saudis and hand them over the capacity to threaten Israel and the U.S. with nuclear weapons, never". 

Saudi Arabia inaugurated a consulate in Baghdad; Saudi officials also announced "the construction of a sports city for the people of Iraq... and the provision of a $1 billion grant from the Kingdom to Iraq to contribute to its development [and] for the kingdom to be a key partner in the renaissance of Iraq". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi drones bound for Khamis Mushait; the resultant debris reportedly wounded five civilians. 

King Salman affirmed Saudi Arabia's "total rejection of any measures that would infringe on Syrian sovereignty over the Golan". He also urged "the international community to compel Iran-backed Huthi militias to stop their aggressive practices that have caused the sufferings of the Yemeni people and threatened the security and stability of the region".  

Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf asserted that "we reject President Trump's declaration on the occupied Golan, which is a Syrian Arab land". Al-Assaf also opined that "Iran's ballistic missiles pose a threat to regional and international security", adding that the Kingdom considered "Iran fully responsible for what is happening in Yemen". 

On Yemen, Secretary of State Pompeo argued that "since America's begin to assist the Saudis in their campaign, the ratio of civilian casualties to effectiveness has decreased dramatically", also noting that "the Iranians have contributed zero dollars to humanitarian assistance". "I'm hopeful", Pompeo added, "that the Iranians will lose heart and that the Huthis will see that they can have a political role there". 

Foreign Minister Zarif posited that "Saudi Arabia and its allies rejected Iran's peace plan for Yemen in April 2015 - claiming that victory was at hand within three weeks. On the eve of the war's shameful fifth year, a reminder that it's not too late to stop the nightmare that this war has become". 

Following President Trump's decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Saudi Arabia announced "its firm rejection and condemnation of the declaration" and "affirmed its firm and principled position on the Golan Heights that it is an occupied Syrian Arab land". The government further predicted that the move would "have great negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East, [and the] security and stability of the region". 

Supreme Leader Khamenei remarked that "I do not know any state in this region, or maybe anywhere in the world, worse than the Saudi regime. It is a despotic, dictatorial, corrupt, tyrannical and dependent regime". He also stated that "I would not worry" about Saudi missile production, "because I know in the near future they will be in the hands of Islamic warriors". 

A senior U.S. diplomat asserted that "Iran has provided ballistic missile to the Huthis that have been fired into Saudi Arabia, and unmanned aerial systems to Huthi groups that enable long-range, indiscriminate strikes against land-based targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates". 

Discussing a 13 March Senate vote against continued U.S. assistance to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Secretary Pompeo remarked that "we all want this conflict to end... but the Trump administration fundamentally disagrees that curbing our assistance to the Saudi-led coalition is the right way to achieve those goals". "If you truly care about Yemeni lives", Pompeo suggested, "you'd support the Saudi-led effort to prevent Yemen from turning into a puppet state of the corrupt, brutish Islamic Republic of Iran. If we truly care about Saudi lives, you'd want to stop Iran-backed Huthis from launching missiles into Riyadh. If you truly care about Arab lives in the region, you'd support allied efforts to prevent Iran from extending its authoritarian rule from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea and on down to Yemen. And if we truly care about American lives and livelihoods, and the lives and livelihoods of people all around the world, you'd understand that Iran and its proxies cannot be allowed to control the shipping lanes that abut Yemen". "The way to alleviate the Yemeni people's suffering", he went on to argue, "isn't to prolong the conflict by handicapping our partners in the fight, but by giving the Saudi-led coalition the support needed to defeat Iranian-backed rebels and ensure a just peace". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi drone en route to Abha; five civilians were injured by debris.

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel remarked that "the conflict in Yemen opened opportunities for Iran, which continues to provide support to the Huthis aimed at building a proxy force designed to pressure the Saudi-led coalition and expand Iranian regional influence. This support enables Huthis to launch missiles at its neighbours and target ships in the Bab al-Mandab and Red Sea; threatening Americans and our partners and raising the risk of broader regional conflict". 

Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that "the reason we sell weapons to Saudi Arabia is very straightforward: they're an important strategic partner of the U.S... that strategic relationship is absolutely vital to the U.S." He added that "as for Yemen, it's a complicated place. The Iranians have provided weapons systems to the Huthis there, where they have now built missiles that are landing in Saudi Arabia. No, no, no, America wouldn't tolerate this for a second. If the Iranians had provided missiles to a group that was launching weapons systems into Des Moines, I am confident you would demand that your government stand up and push back against that, in the same way the Saudi government is pushing back against that".

 A senior Saudi official posted a video showing contrasting statements about Saudi Arabia by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and an IRGC official, opining that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia learned the hard way that Zarif is just another face of the same coin; now we know who is the jockey and who is the horse". He added that "perhaps Zarif announced his resignation because he finally understood that his peaceful rhetoric in Europe isn't worth much back home. We always listen to what is said in Tehran and not by Zarif in Europe". 

A senior Saudi diplomat urged that "the world community shall intervene to end the human rights violations being committed by Tehran against groups of the Iranian people, as well as cross-border violations, and interference in the internal affairs of the countries in the region".

A senior Saudi diplomat urged "the international community to put an end to Iranian human rights violations, whether it is against Iranian people in the face of Ahvaz, or across the region by supporting terrorist militias and promoting sectarian strife". 

In remarks at an Arab League-EU summit in Egypt, King Salman "called for denouncing the launch of more than 200 Iranian-manufactured ballistic missiles towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing that the Iranian activities to destablise security and stability of the maritime navigation in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea represent a direct and dangerous security of all". He also indicated that "the Iranian regime's support for [Huthi] militias and others in the region and its aggressive practices and blatant interference in the affairs of the states requires a unified international position to coerce Iran [into] respecting the rules of good neighbourliness and international law and put an end to its nuclear and ballistic program". 

Officials from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other regional governments convened in Washington to discuss "the political and security pillars of the Middle East Strategic Alliance". A subsequent U.S. statement indicated that "consultations included formative exchanges on the strategic objectives of the alliance, with particular emphasis on political and security-related topics". 

A senior Saudi official denied Iranian accusations of Saudi involvement in a deadly 13 February attack against an IRGC bus in south-eastern Iran, instead arguing that "Iran has been harbouring virtually the board of directors of al-Qaeda" and "facilitating the transport of terrorists across its territory". "The last country in the world to accuse others of supporting terrorism is Iran", he added. Iran's diplomatic spokesperson responded by dubbing Saudi Arabia "the real godfather of Takfiri terrorism" and "cradle of fundamentalist ideology". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu's office posted, then removed, a video clip taken during the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East showing senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE criticising Iran. These comments included Bahrain's foreign minister suggesting that "we grew up talking about the Israel-Palestine issue as the most important issue... but then, at a later stage, we saw a bigger challenge, we saw a more toxic one - in fact the more toxic one in our history - that came from the Islamic Republic". "This is the challenge we have to face in order to deal with other challenges", the foreign minister added. The footage also showed a senior Saudi official concluding with respect to Iran that "any attempt to be nice to them, if anything, encourages them rather then discourages them".  

The U.S., UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE met for consultations regarding Yemen. A joint declaration noted that their representatives "discussed Iran's destabilising effect in Yemen, through the illicit provision of finance, ballistic missiles and advanced weaponry to the Huthis, and in the wider region". It further indicated that "the efforts to reduce illicit fuel imports by the Huthis, the ministers discussed steps to curb activity facilitating Iranian oil flows whilst at the same time, ensuring fuel flows through Red Sea ports". 

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel assessed that "the conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya have challenged Saudi Arabia's partners in the region, beset by the malign influence driven by experienced and well-funded Iranian proxies". He further indicated "the ballistic missile threat and armed UASs emanating from Yemeni territory continue to pose a significant risk, as the Huthis consider civil infrastructure as legitimate military targets". 

Secretary of State Pompeo held discussions with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh, including on "the need for continued regional efforts to stand against the Iranian regime's malign activity". 

As the White House authorised a $195 million overhaul of Saudi missile defence systems, a U.S. diplomat underscored that "Saudi Arabia has been an important partner for the U.S. in curbing the malign behaviour of Iran, who is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and the source of the growing ballistic missile threat to our regional partners". 

The Houthis reportedly fired two missiles towards Saudi Arabia over 24 hours, including one intercepted en route to Najran. 

An Iranian Hajj official reported that Saudi Arabia had moved ahead with compensation payments for Iranian fatalities during the 2015 pilgrimage. 

President Trump announced that "Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria". 

Saudi Arabia and Iran inked a memorandum of understanding regarding the 2019 Hajj. 

Iranian officials traveled to Saudi Arabia for discussions regarding the 2019 Hajj. 

In a speech to the GCC Supreme Council, King Salman warned that "extremist and terrorist forces continue to threaten Gulf and Arab security. The Iranian regime continues to pursue its hostile policies in sponsoring these forces and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries". "This", he added, "requires all of us to preserve the gains of our countries, to work with our partners in order to maintain security and stability... and to insist on the need to achieve full and adequate guarantees on Iran's nuclear program and its ballistic missile development program". 

Following Huthis claims of a missile strike against the Saudi military in Najran, Saudi Arabia countered that it had, in fact, located and destroyed a Huthi launch site after "the Huthi militia attempted to fire a ballistic missile towards the kingdom". 

The State Department confirmed that Washington and Riyadh had inked an arms purchase by Saudi Arabia valued at $15 billion; a spokesperson indicated that the missile system would help counter "the growing ballistic missile threat from the Iranian regime and Iran-backed extremist groups". 

In remarks to the Shura Council, King Salman argued that "the international community must work to put an end to the Iranian regime's nuclear and ballistic missiles program, and stop its destabilising activities in the region and its flagrant interference in the internal affairs of other countries". 

Citing improvements in "its capability to independently conduct in-flight refueling in Yemen", the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had, "in consultation with the U.S.... requested cessation of in-flight refueling support for its operations in Yemen". In a statement, Secretary of Defence James Mattis indicated that "we support the decision... to use the Coalition's own military capabilities to conduct in-flight refueling in support of operations in Yemen", adding that "the U.S. will also continue working with the Coalition and Yemen to minimise civilian casualties and expand urgent humanitarian efforts throughout the country". 

A spokesperson for the Hadi government claimed that the Huthis have "terrorist intentions to target international navigation paths and global trade in Bab al-Mandab and south of the Red Sea, and to blow up the Safer oil tank at Ras Isa". 

The Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, argued that "the primary regional actor for instability has been the Khomeini revolution in Iran, and the behaviour and the actions of the Iranian state ever since". Describing an Iranian "vision of darkness, which seeks to spread sectarianism, encourages terrorism, seeks to dominate other countries and seeks to destabilise the region", al-Jubeir added that "we know that light always triumphs over darkness".

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other members of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against "nine individuals associated with the Taliban, including those facilitating Iranian support to bolster the terrorist group". Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asserted that "Iran's provision of military training, financing, and weapons to the Taliban is yet another example of Tehran's blatant regional meddling and support for terrorism", adding that it "epitomises the regime's utter disregard for fundamental international norms".