Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday. In a phone call with Pezeshkian, the crown prince affirmed his country’s support for any “efforts that would resolve differences through dialogue” to bolster security and stability in the region.
Earlier, Iranian media reported that Pezeshkian told bin Salman that Tehran welcomes any process, within the framework of international law, that prevents war. The statement by the Saudi de facto ruler follows a similar statement by the United Arab Emirates, which said it would not allow any military action against Iran using its airspace or territorial waters.
Uncertainty over the possibility of military action in Iran has lingered since US President Donald Trump announced last week that an “armada” was heading toward the country but hoped he wouldn’t have to use it. Trump said on Tuesday another US “armada” was floating towards Iran and he hoped that Tehran would make a deal with Washington.
“There is another beautiful armada floating beautifully towards Iran right now,” Trump said in a speech. “I hope they make a deal.”
Trump’s warnings to Tehran were against killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme, but the countrywide demonstrations have since subsided. Security forces have been blamed for thousands of deaths by rights groups, who describe the unrest as the biggest crackdown since the Iranian leadership took power in 1979.
A US aircraft carrier and supporting warships arrived in the Middle East, two US officials told Reuters on Monday, expanding Trump’s capabilities to defend US forces or potentially take military action against Iran. The protests have been characterized by rights groups as being backed by exiled opponents who are terrorists and rioters.