Urgent Talks Postponed After Major Houthi Attack on Saudi Airbase
High-stakes diplomatic negotiations between Iran and Gulf Arab states, originally scheduled for Monday in Oman, have been indefinitely postponed. The talks, intended to address the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, were delayed following a massive assault by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced the postponement late Sunday, citing the need for consensus. Iran’s foreign ministry attributed the delay to Saudi Arabia, alleging that Riyadh requested the postponement following Houthi attacks on the kingdom. The Houthis, who have recently seized key Red Sea islands and the port of Mokha, claimed to have fired dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at the King Khalid Air Base, reporting direct hits on radars, runways, hangars, and ammunition depots. The rebels described the strike as retaliation for more than 300 Saudi airstrikes conducted on Yemen in recent days. Saudi authorities have issued emergency alerts in southern cities but have not confirmed specific damage.
Oil Corridors and Global Impact
The conflict, currently marked by a six-month war between the US, Israel, and Iran, has expanded to a second front in Yemen, jeopardizing both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb. These two chokepoints are critical to global oil transit. Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, which served as an alternative to the blockaded Hormuz, was struck last week and remains shut down, with traders warning that oil reserves at Yanbu may be depleted within days. Brent crude prices rose by over 3 percent on Monday, while US diesel prices reached record highs.
Regional Tensions and International Response
In related tensions, Iran has issued a blacklist of 77 commercial vessels accused of violating its Hormuz protocols, threatening the ships with fines, detention, or confiscation. A commercial vessel caught fire and required evacuation after being struck by a projectile in the strait over the weekend. Meanwhile, regional unity is fracturing; Bahrain declined to attend the Oman talks, and while the UAE’s crown prince held discussions with Iran’s president at the BRICS summit, Gulf states remain divided on whether to prioritize dialogue or leverage against Iran.
US President Donald Trump has resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention against the Houthis, despite recent meetings between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah. The White House remains cautious about expanding military engagement while continuing economic pressure on Iran. As the Houthi presence in the southern Red Sea grows, Iran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until its demands regarding sanctions, reparations, and the cessation of US aggression are addressed. Gulf states continue to demand free passage, while Saudi Arabia insists that Houthi military actions must cease first.