ISTANBUL

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday stressed the need to support mediation efforts and resume talks between the United States and Iran, and to contain tensions in the region.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from Ishaq Dar, during which they discussed "the latest developments amid the escalation the region is witnessing."

It added that the two sides "stressed the need to support mediation and the return of US-Iran talks, contain tensions, and make necessary efforts to reach comprehensive peaceful solutions that enhance regional and international security and stability."

Earlier on Saturday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Omani capital Muscat "to discuss the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, regional developments, and bilateral relations with Omani officials."

On Friday, the United States demanded that Iran provide a public commitment not to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz and to keep all its sea lanes open to commercial navigation, according to US media citing unnamed officials.

This comes as the Strait of Hormuz region periodically experiences security tensions due to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026.

Iran insists on the need for coordination with it before any ship crosses the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world's most important energy supply routes.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had asked the United States to resume negotiations, and that his country agreed, while affirming the end of the ceasefire.

These developments come amid rising tensions between the two sides, as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Thursday that it had carried out new strikes targeting about 90 Iranian military sites, including air defense systems, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and logistical infrastructure on the Iranian coast.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, warning that it would expand the scope of its attacks if US strikes continued.

Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18, following negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, as a precursor to reaching a final agreement.