Saudi Arabia says reserves right to respond after Iran attacks Riyadh, east

Saudi Arabia has made it clear that its top priority in the current conflict with Iran is to stop attacks aimed at Gulf countries. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized that the Kingdom is committed to maintaining regional stability, according to Al Jazeera. He mentioned that Saudi Arabia is prepared to take military action against Iran if provoked. After a meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh, he stated, “What I care about now is that the attacks on my country and on my neighboring countries, which are not part of this conflict, end. That’s all I’m interested in.” He affirmed that Riyadh would explore every possible way to halt these attacks, mentioning, “We are going to use every lever we have—political, economic, diplomatic—to stop the attacks.” Saudi Arabia also warned that it may respond with military force if needed. Prince Faisal criticized Iran for not engaging in dialogue with its neighbors, saying instead it tries to exert pressure, a tactic he believes will not succeed. He added, “The Kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and, on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... politically, morally, and certainly, we reserve the right to take military actions if necessary.” According to Al Jazeera, the foreign minister noted that trust in Iran has been greatly damaged. He remarked, “Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries were premeditated, and what we are witnessing now confirms this,” stressing that any existing trust has been completely destroyed. He expressed hope that Tehran would reconsider its actions, saying, “I would hope that they understand the message of the meeting today, recalculate quickly, and stop attacking their neighbors.” Furthermore, Prince Faisal accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure, finding its claim that the strikes were related to US military bases “unconvincing.” He warned that ongoing attacks would lead to Iran becoming more isolated and highlighted that threats to freedom of navigation require a united response.