Iran has called for a serious review of its ties with Gulf Arab states as the wider U.S.–Israeli war with Tehran continues to roil the region, saying that decades of external dependence have failed to bring prosperity and urging deeper cooperation among neighbours, according to Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. In a rare public statement from Riyadh, the envoy emphasized that Iran values dialogue with Gulf capitals and stressed that stability in the Persian Gulf-a region that has seen more than 2,000 missile and drone strikes since the conflict began-requires reducing reliance on outside powers and finding common ground. Tehran also firmly denied any involvement in recent attacks on key Saudi oil infrastructure, including drone strikes and incidents targeting facilities such as the massive Ras Tanura refinery and other Gulf energy zones, insisting instead that Iran’s military operations have been directed at U.S. and Israeli interests; the ambassador rejected claims that Tehran was behind assaults on Gulf states’ energy sector and said if Iran were responsible it would acknowledge it. While Saudi Arabia has faced repeated cross‑border attacks and Gulf nations have condemned strikes affecting their territory, Riyadh has not formally blamed Tehran for specific oil facility incidents, even as energy markets remain on edge with shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz disrupted and global prices volatile. Iran’s call for a recalibration of regional relations comes amid diplomatic efforts to balance deterrence with dialogue, with leaders in the Gulf seeking to avert further escalation even as they navigate security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict.
