Saudi officials confirm its airspace and territory will not be used against Iran

2026-03-08 - 09:23

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that he is in constant contact with officials in Saudi Arabia, according to Al Arabiya. The Iranian Foreign Minister added, “Saudi officials have confirmed they will not allow their territory or airspace to be used against Iran.” This follows after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a televised address on Saturday, offering an unprecedented apology to regional nations for Iran’s recent strikes – signaling a major shift in the country’s rules of military engagement. Pezeshkian characterized the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel as a war “imposed on Tehran.” He revealed that the Provisional Leadership Council, established following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued new directives to the Iranian Armed Forces. The president stated that the military has been ordered to cease all missile strikes and attacks against neighboring countries, unless those nations are used as a launchpad for attacks against Iran. This marks a departure from the previous “freedom of action” doctrine that allowed for broader regional targeting. “We hold no enmity toward the nations of the region,” Pezeshkian emphasized, asserting that Iran’s primary focus is defending its “territorial integrity.” He added: “We will remain steadfast until our country is guided out of this crisis.”