Diplomacy intensified on Monday as Iran continued its rocket and drone attacks against the Gulf.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks with his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow on developments in the region and efforts exerted towards them.
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani received telephone calls from his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Egypt and Türkiye, while the foreign minister of Kuwait received a telephone call from his British counterpart for talks on the regional escalation.
Sheikh Mohammed discussed during his telephone calls the regional escalation and its impact on regional and global security. The officials also tackled means to peacefully resolve all disputes.
They stressed the need to bolster coordination and intensify joint efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire and end the escalation. They urged a return to dialogue and for wisdom to prevail to contain the crisis to ensure the security of global energy supplies, marine navigation and the safety of the region.
Gulf defenses, meanwhile, continued to counter attacks from Iran amid warnings of their impact on regional and international security.
Saudi defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles in Riyadh and destroyed 13 drones in the Northern and Eastern Regions.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense said its defenses confronted hostile Iranian rocket and drone attacks.
Bahrain's defenses shot down two rockets and 36 drones fired by Iran on Monday.
Bahrain has downed 147 rockets and 282 drones since Iran started its attacks.
The UAE intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 16 drones fired by Iran on Monday.
The country has so far shot down 352 ballistic missiles, 15 rockets and 1,789 drones since the beginning of the conflict.
Oman’s top diplomat said on Monday his country, which has long mediated between the US and Iran, is working to secure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. He did not elaborate.
Foreign Minister Bad Albusaidi also wrote in a social media post that Iran is not to be blamed for the war.
“Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making. This is already causing widespread economic problems,” he wrote.
