ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional de-escalation and security, Riyadh’s foreign ministry reported. The call marks their first contact since the eruption of the Iran war in late February, during which Tehran launched dozens of attacks on what it claims are US targets in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry said that bin Farhan “received a phone call” from Araghchi, during which “they reviewed the latest developments and discussed ways to reduce tensions and restore security and stability in the region.”
The engagement marks the first of its kind since the outbreak of the Middle East war and the subsequent two-week ceasefire agreement that took effect on Tuesday.
The US and Israel launched a coordinated military campaign against Iran on February 28, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting on Tuesday that the operation - dubbed Operation Epic Fury - involved strikes on more than 13,000 targets across Iran, focusing on sites deemed to “pose an imminent threat.”
CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper stated in late March that the operation aims to “eliminate Iran’s ability to project power in meaningful ways beyond its borders.”
In response, Tehran has carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
The call comes a day after Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported on Wednesday that “nine drones were intercepted and destroyed” and that “five ballistic missiles” launched toward the Kingdom’s Eastern Province were also intercepted.
Notably, the Eastern Province accounts for the overwhelming share of Saudi Arabia’s petroleum wealth, producing roughly 70 to 80 percent of the Kingdom’s daily oil output - exceeding seven million barrels per day. Additionally, nearly all of Saudi Arabia’s proven oil reserves - estimated at around 267 billion barrels - are concentrated in this province and its offshore waters.
The Eastern Province is also home to the global headquarters of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, and serves as a major operational hub for international energy firms such as SLB, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry has reported that its forces have intercepted a total of 188 ballistic missiles and 477 drones launched toward the Kingdom. Of those, at least 110 drones and 75 missiles were specifically aimed at the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and its energy and industrial infrastructure.
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