RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on Sunday received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and discussed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran.
During the phone conversation, the two foreign ministers reviewed the latest developments in light of the current situation and discussed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During the call, Prince Faisal affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continuing its regional role in promoting security and stability in a manner that serves the shared interests of all countries and peoples in the region.
🇸🇦📞🇮🇷 | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. pic.twitter.com/7Syj82wwIj
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 2, 2026
The Saudi Foreign Minister also received separately two phone calls from Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, according to SPA.
The calls reviewed regional developments and underscored the importance of supporting efforts and unifying positions aimed at de-escalation and countering threats to regional security, in a manner that ensures the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea and limits the adverse repercussions of the crisis.
📞 | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan receives phone calls from the Foreign Ministers of Qatar and Jordan. pic.twitter.com/TodTPeIpgL
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 2, 2026
Mediators seek to revive Islamabad MoU
Meanwhile, an Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday that mediators are making fresh efforts to revive the Pakistan-brokered Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that halted the war between the United States and Iran in June.
Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said mediators were continuing efforts to revive the agreement, which was brokered by Pakistan and Qatar and signed following talks held in Islamabad.
“There is an effort underway to revive the 14-point Islamabad agreement, particularly by the mediators,” Ghashghavi said in a video interview.
“They know that the main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” he added.
The Iranian lawmaker also said there was a “constant exchange of views and discussion over proposals” but did not elaborate further.
Trump pauses US strikes on Iran
The remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Israel had agreed to postpone any planned military action against Iran, provided an agreement to end months of conflict could be reached quickly.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said Washington remained fully prepared to launch military operations if diplomacy failed.
“The USA is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of military strength and power not seen since the Second World War,” the US President wrote.
Trump said he had nevertheless agreed to suspend any immediate military action after receiving requests from Iran and several countries in the Middle East to refrain from launching attacks.
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the world and the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a deal,” he said.
According to Trump, any future agreement must include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and firm guarantees regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that… pic.twitter.com/Ylmlm06j3E
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 2, 2026
He added that Israel supported the US position, saying: “The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it done.”
Islamabad MoU framework
The Islamabad MoU was brokered by Pakistan and Qatar following negotiations in Islamabad after months of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
Pakistan and Qatar subsequently co-mediated the first round of high-level negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21.
The talks were attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Saudi Arabia calls for dialogue
Separately, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the need for diplomacy during a telephone conversation with President Trump, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During the telephone conversation with Trump, the Saudi Crown Prince stressed the “necessity of prioritising dialogue to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East, SPA reported.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the importance of paving the way for “diplomatic solutions that yield positive results to preserve the security and stability of the region, and prevent being drawn into a broader conflict whose repercussions affect regional and international security and stability”.
🇸🇦📞🇺🇸| HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with U.S. President Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/SQQdpAjakf
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 2, 2026
Pakistan has played a central mediating role between the United States and Iran since brokering a ceasefire on 8 April and hosting high-level talks between the two sides in Islamabad on 12 and 13 April.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged both countries to honour the Islamabad MoU and continue diplomatic engagement.
The first round of Pakistan- and Qatar-mediated negotiations under the agreement was later held in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 21 June.
The talks were attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Following the negotiations, Pakistan and Qatar announced significant progress in diplomatic efforts, while Washington eased certain sanctions on Tehran.
