Saudi Arabia warns of military action amid Iranian attacks

Saudi Arabia has issued a strong warning to Iran, signalling that its restraint may soon run out as tensions escalate across the region.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom could consider military action if Iranian attacks continue, stressing that patience has limits.

His remarks came after an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, where countries collectively urged Tehran to halt its actions.

He emphasised that while Saudi Arabia has exercised restraint, it retains both the capability and the right to respond if necessary.

According to him, the fragile trust rebuilt between Riyadh and Tehran following the 2023 restoration of diplomatic ties has now been effectively destroyed.

The meeting produced a joint statement from multiple regional countries, including Gulf and Middle Eastern nations, condemning Iran’s missile and drone strikes on civilian and strategic infrastructure. These included attacks on oil facilities, airports, residential zones and diplomatic sites.

The ministers warned that such actions violate international norms and cannot be justified.

They also reaffirmed the right of nations to defend themselves under international law, while calling on Iran to de-escalate and respect the sovereignty of neighbouring states.

Recent weeks have seen a surge in hostilities, with Iran launching waves of drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

Tehran claims the attacks are retaliation for strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.

The situation worsened further after Iran accused Israel of targeting the South Pars gas field and threatened to expand attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf.

Reports from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE confirmed strikes on oil and gas facilities around the same time.

In Riyadh, air defence systems intercepted several incoming ballistic missiles, though falling debris landed near a refinery. Residents reported loud explosions and emergency alerts, highlighting how close the conflict has come to civilian areas in the capital.

Saudi officials say hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles have been intercepted since the escalation began, with similar or higher levels of attacks reported in other Gulf states.

Prince Faisal accused Iran of carrying out coordinated and preplanned attacks, both directly and through allied groups in the region.

He also confirmed that Saudi oil facilities had been targeted, pushing back against Iranian claims that only US-linked sites were hit.

Regional leaders also raised concerns over maritime security, warning that continued escalation could threaten key global shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb.

Iran is widely accused of supporting armed groups like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which have played roles in widening the conflict. In Lebanon, ongoing Israeli strikes linked to clashes with Hezbollah have caused heavy casualties and mass displacement.

Despite the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia says it still favours a diplomatic solution. However, officials cautioned that continued attacks could leave little room for de-escalation moving forward.