In a series of diplomatic talks, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan underscored the country’s ongoing efforts to ease heightened regional tensions and keep channels of dialogue open amid a volatile geopolitical environment.

According to posts shared on the ministry’s official X account, Riyadh has been engaging with key regional capitals and capitals beyond the Gulf in a bid to calm the situation and prevent further escalation.

The Saudi FM has been in contact with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, discussing the urgent need to reduce friction and stabilise the broader region.

Additionally, he spoke with Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, and discussed current developments in the region as well as bilateral cooperation.

The Saudi FM also spoke with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, focusing their discussion on the two countries’ joint efforts to promote safety and security.

These outreach efforts come against the backdrop of continuing regional tensions from the US-Israel war on Iran, which has seen missile and drone exchanges and thousands of civilians dead, especially in Iran and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Araghchi, after arriving in Russia, addressed the failure of the latest round of negotiations, pinpointing American demands as the main reason behind the breakdown. “Americans’ approach led to the previous round of talks to fail to meet its objectives, despite the progress made. This was due to the excessive demands they made and wrong approaches they adopted,” he said.

He further stated that consultations were held with Pakistan to assess the situation, stressing the importance of diplomatic support and strengthening ties in the region. Araghchi also mentioned Oman as a close ally, noting that their stance during the war had been commendable. He stressed the need for closer cooperation, especially with nations in the southern Persian Gulf, to address arising issues.

As both Oman and Iran share borders along the strategic Strait of Hormuz, he concluded by reaffirming the necessity of ongoing talks to align their interests and coordinate efforts for future steps.

Backchannel diplomacy expands across region

Despite no immediate prospects of direct talks between Iran and the United States, diplomacy remains very much alive, as a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity suggests a serious push to seek a permanent end to the war, it emerged on Sunday.

Araghchi returned to Islamabad after spending several hours in Muscat, Oman, as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements. Araghchi travelled to Muscat on a Pakistani aircraft, while members of his delegation returned to Tehran for consultations with the leadership back home.

Read: Excessive US demands derailed previous round of talks despite progress: Iranian FM

Upon his return, his team regrouped in Islamabad for further discussions with Pakistani authorities. Significantly, sources said Araghchi met Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, soon after arriving from Oman, as part of consultations on efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.

According to Iranian media, Araghchi also carried written messages outlining Tehran’s position on key issues, including its “nuclear red lines” and the Strait of Hormuz. The communication, officials said, was not part of formal negotiations but an effort to clearly convey Iran’s stance amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.