In a telephone conversation on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi briefed his Saudi counterpart on the latest regional developments following the announcement of a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and the risks arising from provocative US actions.
Araqchi also informed the Saudi foreign minister about the Pakistani-mediated talks between Iran and the US, held in Islamabad on April 11.
Highlighting Iran's responsible approach and good faith in accepting the ceasefire and entering negotiations, Araghchi said, "Unfortunately, we witnessed the continuation of excessive demands by the American side in the negotiations, which led to a lack of results."
For his part, the Saudi foreign minister emphasized his country's support for diplomatic efforts and expressed hope that this process would lead to the complete end of the war and the return of security and lasting stability to the region.
On February 28, following the assassination of late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several military commanders, the US and Israel initiated a sweeping military campaign against Iran. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces executed a series of counterattacks over a span of 40 days, targeting American and Israeli military installations in the region and demonstrating their combat capabilities. Contrary to the expectations of a swift victory, the Iranian retaliations caused considerable damage to US and Israeli assets, prolonging the conflict and escalating tensions in the region.
In an attempt to ease hostilities, a two-week ceasefire was brokered on April 8, allowing for mediated negotiations to take place in Islamabad. Iran presented a ten-point plan during these discussions, which called for the withdrawal of US troops, the lifting of sanctions, and control over the key Strait of Hormuz. Despite engaging in 21 hours of intense talks with US negotiators in Pakistan, the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran without reaching an agreement, citing a lack of trust and the US’ political flip-flop.