Pakistan has delivered a warning to Iran over escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, urging Tehran to rein in the Yemen-based group and prevent the conflict from expanding into a wider regional confrontation, according to a Reuters report citing Saudi, Pakistani and Iranian sources.
The development comes after Houthi forces launched attacks on several Saudi cities on September 8, striking an airbase and oil-related infrastructure and leaving 73 people injured. Saudi Arabia has since warned that it will respond to attacks on its territory.
Pakistan Delivers Saudi Message
A senior regional diplomat told Reuters that Islamabad conveyed Riyadh's message to Tehran within the past 24 hours, asking Iran to use its influence to stop further Houthi attacks.
The warning is significant because Pakistan has traditionally maintained relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran while attempting to avoid direct involvement in their regional rivalry.
An Iranian senior official confirmed that Pakistan had conveyed the message but said Tehran's position was that Iran does not control the Houthis, according to Reuters. Other Iranian sources, however, alleged that Tehran had encouraged the group to intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia and had offered additional financial and military support.
Houthi Strikes Raise Stakes
The latest escalation began with attacks on southern Saudi Arabia, including Khamis Mushait, Abha, Jazan and Najran.
Saudi authorities said the strikes involved missiles and drones and caused fires at oil facilities and utilities. The attacks also affected critical energy infrastructure, raising concerns about the security of another major oil-export route at a time when the wider Gulf region is already facing severe disruption.
The Saudi-led coalition has said it will respond to attacks against the kingdom and protect its territory and civilian infrastructure.
Riyadh Warns of Retaliation
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday that Saudi warplanes had carried out dozens of strikes across Yemeni provinces and warned that the attacks would not go unanswered.
Reuters reported that the Houthis claimed Saudi forces had conducted 54 airstrikes over a 12-hour period. The competing claims could not be independently verified in full.
The exchange has raised fears that the relatively limited confrontation could develop into a larger Saudi-Houthi war, particularly as tensions between Iran and the United States are simultaneously escalating across the Gulf.
Makkah Defence Pact Under Test
Pakistan's warning also comes against the backdrop of its recently signed defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, an armed attack against one of the three countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three. The countries have also agreed to strengthen collective defence capabilities and military coordination.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that aggression or spillover into Saudi territory could make the agreement operational. He has nevertheless stressed that Pakistan's role would be defensive and focused on protecting Saudi territory.
Islamabad Seeks Diplomatic Solution
Despite the strong warning, Pakistani officials appear keen to prevent the defence agreement from translating into direct combat involvement.
A Pakistani regional diplomat told Reuters that Islamabad wanted to restrain the Houthis before Saudi Arabia reached a point where it would seek greater military assistance from Pakistan.
The diplomat said Pakistan would continue pursuing a diplomatic solution and hoped the situation would not reach the stage where Pakistani forces would have to intervene directly.
Iran-Houthi Link Becomes Focus
The central question remains how much influence Tehran has over Houthi military decisions.
Iran has denied controlling the Houthis, while regional and Western governments have long accused Tehran of providing the group with weapons and other forms of support. Reuters cited Iranian sources who claimed that Tehran had recently encouraged attacks and that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel had travelled to Yemen to assist with coordination. These claims have not been independently verified.
The competing positions make Pakistan's diplomatic effort particularly sensitive. Islamabad must pressure Tehran while maintaining its own relationship with its western neighbour.
Gulf Energy Supplies at Risk
The confrontation has implications well beyond Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The Houthi attacks are occurring alongside a major escalation between Iran and the United States involving shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that the combined disruptions have already heightened concerns over global energy supplies and pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel.
With Saudi oil infrastructure now facing renewed attacks, any further escalation could place additional pressure on global energy markets.
For Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the immediate priority is therefore to contain the Houthi-Saudi confrontation before the new defence arrangement is drawn into direct military action. For Tehran, meanwhile, the coming days could determine whether the conflict remains a proxy confrontation or develops into a broader regional war.
