CAIRO: Iran has yet to receive a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen’s Houthi movement to its offer to mediate talks aimed at ending the ongoing fighting, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday.
Araqchi had offered to facilitate dialogue as the Iran-aligned Houthis intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia earlier this month, raising concerns about further escalation in the Middle East.
Speaking to Iraq’s Al Ekhbariya TV, the Iranian foreign minister also addressed the possibility of Egypt joining Saudi Arabia in military action against the Houthis.
“Any foreign intervention would complicate matters,” Araqchi said, warning that outside involvement could make efforts to resolve the conflict more difficult.
He added that Cairo had previously informed Tehran that Egypt would not directly intervene in the Yemeni conflict.
Egypt, however, has expressed its readiness to provide Saudi Arabia with the support needed to defend its security. The position could increase regional tensions as the conflict involving the Houthis continues to develop.
The Egyptian military is among the largest in the Arab world, and any decision by Cairo to participate in military operations against the Houthis could have significant implications for regional security.
Meanwhile, a vote in the Egyptian parliament on possible military action against the Houthi fighters was postponed until October 26.
The latest developments come amid growing concerns that further military involvement could widen the conflict and complicate diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement.
Iran’s mediation proposal remains unanswered by both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, leaving uncertainty over whether diplomatic engagement can help reduce hostilities.
