Saudi crown prince holds diplomatic talks with Turkish, British, Cypriot leaders as Iran strikes Gulf states
The Middle East conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with what has been described as a joint US-Israeli “decapitation strike” in Tehran, has since expanded into a wider confrontation involving Iran and the Gulf monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Mohammed bin Salman held a series of calls with regional and Western leaders as Gulf states coordinated diplomatic and military responses to escalating conflict with Iran following the killing of Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike late last month.
The Middle East conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with what has been described as a joint US-Israeli "decapitation strike" in Tehran, has since expanded into a wider confrontation involving Iran and the Gulf monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council, says Arab News.
Iran has launched large waves of drones and missiles targeting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, according to regional officials.
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Saudi authorities said air defenses intercepted several drones aimed at the Shaybah oil field in the kingdom's east using Patriot and THAAD systems. Officials said falling debris and some direct strikes on civilian areas across the Gulf have caused casualties.
Diplomatic outreach
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held telephone conversations with leaders in Turkey, Britain and Cyprus in what officials described as intensive diplomatic consultations.
During a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the crown prince condemned Iranian attacks on Turkish territory and affirmed Saudi support for "all measures Turkiye takes to safeguard its security and territorial integrity."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also spoke with the Saudi leader and condemned Iran's "indiscriminate and reckless" strikes on Saudi soil, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
Saudi officials said the crown prince warned that the growing confrontation could have consequences for international security beyond the Middle East.
Defense coordination
Saudi Arabia is also strengthening military coordination with partners.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met Pakistan's chief of defense forces to discuss ways to halt Iranian attacks under a "Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement" signed between the two countries in September.
"We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them within the framework of our Joint Strategic Defense Agreement," Prince Khalid said after the meeting.
He added: "We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation."
The agreement states that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, Saudi officials said.
Saudi air defense units have been on high alert as missile and drone attacks continue across the Gulf, with multiple intercepts reported in recent days.
International reactions
International leaders have also voiced concern as the conflict widens.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described as an "unacceptable attack" after a strike hit United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon.
António Guterres warned that the region risked broader escalation, condemning "unlawful attacks" and saying the Middle East could spiral out of control if hostilities continue.
Energy and global impact
The conflict has begun to affect global energy markets and shipping routes.
Iranian strikes have targeted oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf, including facilities linked to Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports. Disruptions briefly halted around 20% of global LNG capacity, according to energy officials.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has also been affected, with Iran restricting energy shipments through the waterway, raising concerns over global fuel supplies and contributing to higher gasoline prices in the United States.
The conflict has also spread beyond the Gulf region. Air defense systems associated with NATO reportedly intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile over the eastern Mediterranean, according to defense officials.
Regional analysts say the expanding theater of military operations underscores the risk that the confrontation could draw in additional international actors if hostilities continue to escalate.
