Iran vs. Israel: Adults in the room need to act quickly
https://arab.news/85q7p
The Middle East is once again at a dangerous crossroads as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate. This latest round of hostilities threatens to drag the region into yet another prolonged conflict — one that benefits no one except those who thrive on instability. At a time when aggression is outpacing diplomacy, it is imperative for rational voices to intervene before the situation spirals beyond control.
Saudi Arabia has taken swift action, demonstrating its commitment to regional peace through intense diplomatic engagement. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally communicated with leaders around the world, emphasizing the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and unify international efforts to prevent further violence. Riyadh recognizes that unchecked military confrontation will not only destabilize nations but also hinder progress, development and the fight against violent extremism.
The Kingdom has unequivocally condemned the attack on Iran and the violation of its sovereignty, denouncing it as a clear breach of international laws. However, Saudi Arabia understands that words alone are insufficient. Proactive measures must be taken to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Riyadh is rallying diplomatic channels to reduce tensions, working to ensure that strategic decisions prioritize stability over reckless militarization.
One of the most critical aspects of Saudi Arabia's approach is preventing its airspace from being exploited for military operations. Riyadh has firmly stated that it will not permit any party to use its territory to fuel hostilities. The Kingdom's primary concern is the protection of its people, ensuring that Saudi citizens and residents are shielded from the repercussions of war. National security remains a top priority and the Saudi leadership will take every step necessary to maintain it.
Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to condemn Israel's strikes on Iran, highlighting the severity of the situation and its potential consequences. Riyadh has repeatedly urged the international community — particularly the UN Security Council — to take decisive action against Israel's pattern of violating sovereignty across the Middle East. The world cannot afford to ignore these aggressions — and it is the responsibility of the global powers to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Beyond the immediate military confrontation, the risks extend into the broader ideological landscape. War in the Middle East does not remain confined to battlefields — it fuels violent extremism. A drawn-out conflict would create opportunities for extremist groups to exploit, further entrenching instability in the region. Saudi Arabia categorically rejects such an outcome. The Kingdom remains committed to safeguarding the region from regression into turmoil and ensuring that its people can move toward a secure and prosperous future.
Hesitation is not an option — only swift, strategic interventions can prevent this conflict from spiraling further.
Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief
There is also a strategic element to consider. Israel's repeated aggression is not merely reactionary; it is calculated. Disorder serves as a convenient justification for further violations, allowing Israel to strengthen its position under the pretense of security. The governments of the Middle East must recognize this tactic and actively work to counter efforts that threaten national sovereignty. Stability is not just about safeguarding borders — it is about rejecting geopolitical maneuvers that thrive on instability.
Saudi diplomacy continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the crisis does not escalate beyond repair. Riyadh's engagement in diplomatic channels serves as a buffer against widespread conflict. Its steadfast commitment to rational negotiation over impulsive warfare has established Saudi Arabia as a stabilizing force at a time when volatility is at its peak.
However, the burden of responsibility does not rest solely on Saudi Arabia. Global powers must act with maturity and wisdom, recognizing the stakes involved. Hesitation is not an option — only swift, strategic interventions can prevent this conflict from spiraling further. Efforts aimed at mediation must be supported and amplified, ensuring that rational discourse prevails over reckless aggression. The success of these diplomatic efforts is crucial, as failure would come at an immeasurable cost.
Saudi Arabia's approach to regional conflicts has always been clear: diplomacy is the key. The Kingdom firmly rejects military escalation, advocating instead for diplomatic resolutions that secure peace and stability. War is not a solution, it is a distraction from the real goal: progress.
This is more than just policy — it is principle. And today, more than ever, it is a principle the world must uphold.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
36 minutes ago
- Arab News
Airports close across the Mideast as the Israel-Iran conflict shutters the region's airspace
BEIRUT: After Israeli strikes landed near the hotel where he was staying in the Iranian province of Qom, Aimal Hussein desperately wanted to return home. But the 55-year-old Afghan businessman couldn't find a way, with Iranian airspace completely shut down. He fled to Tehran after the strike Sunday, but no taxi would take him to the border as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensified. 'Flights, markets, everything is closed, and I am living in the basement of a small hotel,' Hussein told The Associated Press by cellphone on Monday. 'I am trying to get to the border by taxi, but they are hard to find, and no one is taking us.' Israel launched a major attack Friday with strikes in the Iranian capital of Tehran and elsewhere, killing senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and destroying critical infrastructure. Among the targets was a nuclear enrichment facility about 18 miles from Qom. Iran has retaliated with hundreds of drones and missiles. The dayslong attacks between the two bitter enemies have opened a new chapter in their turbulent recent history. Many in the region fear a wider conflict as they watch waves of attacks across their skies every night. The conflict has forced most countries in the Middle East to close their airspace. Dozens of airports have stopped all flights or severely reduced operations, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded and others unable to flee the conflict or travel home. Airport closures create 'massive' domino, tens of thousands stranded 'The domino effect here is massive,' said retired pilot and aviation safety expert John Cox, who said the disruptions will have a huge price tag. 'You've got thousands of passengers suddenly that are not where they're supposed to be, crews that are not where they are supposed to be, airplanes that are not where they're supposed to be,' he said. Zvika Berg was on an El Al flight to Israel from New York when an unexpected message came from the pilot as they began their descent: 'Sorry, we've been rerouted to Larnaca.' The 50-year-old Berg saw other Israel-bound El Al flights from Berlin and elsewhere landing at the airport in Cyprus. Now he's waiting at a Larnaca hotel while speaking to his wife in Jerusalem. 'I'm debating what to do,' Berg said. Israel has closed its main international Ben Gurion Airport 'until further notice,' leaving more than 50,000 Israeli travelers stranded abroad. The jets of the country's three airlines have been moved to Larnaca. In Israel, Mahala Finkleman was stuck in a Tel Aviv hotel after her Air Canada flight was canceled, trying to reassure her worried family back home while she shelters in the hotel's underground bunker during waves of overnight Iranian attacks. 'We hear the booms. Sometimes there's shaking,' she said. 'The truth, I think it's even scarier … to see from TV what happened above our heads while we were underneath in a bomb shelter.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office warned Israelis not to flee the country through any of the three crossings with Jordan and Egypt that are open to the Israeli public. Despite having diplomatic ties with Israel, the statement said those countries are considered a 'high risk of threat' to Israeli travelers. Iran on Friday suspended flights to and from the country's main Khomeini International Airport on the outskirts of Tehran. Israel said Saturday that it bombed Mehrabad Airport in an early attack, a facility in Tehran for Iran's air force and domestic commercial flights. Many students unable to leave Iran, Iraq and elsewhere Arsalan Ahmed is one of thousands of Indian university students stuck in Iran, with no way out. The medical student and other students in Tehran are not leaving the hostels where they live, horrified by the attacks with no idea of when they'll find safety. 'It is very scary what we watch on television,' Ahmed said. 'But scarier are some of the deafening explosions.' Universities have helped relocate many students to safer places in Iran, but the Indian government has not yet issued an evacuation plan for them. Though airspace is still partially open in Lebanon and Jordan, the situation is chaotic at airports, with many passengers stranded locally and abroad with delayed and canceled flights even as the busy summer tourism season begins. Many airlines have reduced flights or stopped them altogether, and authorities have closed airports overnight when attacks are at their most intense. Syria, under new leadership, had just renovated its battered airports and begun restoring diplomatic ties when the conflict began. Neighboring Iraq's airports have all closed due to its close proximity to Iran. Israel reportedly used Iraqi airspace, in part, to launch its strikes on Iran, while Iranian drones and missiles flying the other way have been downed over Iraq. Baghdad has reached a deal with Turkiye that would allow Iraqis abroad to travel to Turkiye — if they can afford it — and return home overland through their shared border. Some Iraqis stranded in Iran opted to leave by land. College student Yahia Al-Suraifi was studying in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz, where Israel bombed the airport and an oil refinery over the weekend. Al-Suraifi and dozens of other Iraqi students pooled together their money to pay taxi drivers to drive 200 miles (320 kilometers) overnight to the border with northern Iraq with drones and airstrikes around them. 'It looked like fireworks in the night sky,' Al-Suraifi said. 'I was very scared.' By the time they reached the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, it was another 440 miles (710 kilometers) to get to his hometown of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq. Back in Tehran, Hussein said the conflict brought back bitter memories of 20 years of war back home in Afghanistan. 'This is the second time I have been trapped in such a difficult war and situation,' he said, 'once in Kabul and now in Iran.'
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
White House says US forces remain in ‘defensive posture' in Middle East
WASHINGTON: US forces in the Middle East remain in a 'defensive posture, and that has not changed,' the White House said Monday as Israel and Iran traded heavy strikes for a fourth day. 'We will defend American interests,' White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer added in a post on social media.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Oil prices rise as Iran-Israel conflict fans supply worries
Oil prices climbed over 2 percent on Tuesday as Iran-Israel tension intensified and US President Donald Trump urged 'everyone' to evacuate Tehran, increasing the prospect of deepening unrest in the region and disruption to oil supply. The Brent crude futures contract was up $1.17, or 1.6 percent, at $74.4 a barrel as at 0005 GMT and US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.34, or 1.87 percent, at $73.11 - both having risen more than 2 percent earlier in the trading session. Both contracts settled more than 1 percent lower on Monday on hope of easing geopolitical tension after media reports of Iran seeking an end to hostilities. However, the conflict took a turn for the worse on its fifth day on Tuesday as Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defence fire in the capital Tehran. Over in Israel, air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv in response to Iranian missiles. Iran is the third-largest producer among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Hostilities could disrupt its supply of oil and thereby increase prices. On Monday, an Israeli strike hit Iran's state broadcaster and the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog also indicated extensive damage to Iran's biggest uranium enrichment plant. Trump said Iran should have signed a nuclear deal with the US before Israeli strikes began and that he believes Iran now wants to reach an agreement. Easing of US sanctions as part of any deal would allow Iran to export more oil, weighing on global crude prices. Elsewhere, OPEC and allies including Russia - or OPEC+, which pumps about half of the world's oil - said on Monday it expected the global economy to remain resilient in the second half of the year. It also trimmed its forecast for growth in oil supply from the US and other non-OPEC+ countries in 2026.
