Iran Seeks Regional Stability with Turkey and Saudi Arabia Amid US Naval Tensions

Tehran, September 6 – Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi used Saturday night to speak directly with Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The three officials exchanged views on boosting stability across West Asia and on easing the security vacuum that Tehran blames on U.S. “aggressive actions” in the Strait of Hormuz.

IRNA reported that Araghchi’s bilateral talks covered a range of issues, from bilateral cooperation to the latest regional incidents. All parties stressed the urgent need for diplomatic progress to safeguard one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

The calls followed a dramatic escalation on Saturday when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly fired ballistic missiles at two American naval vessels operating in the Hormuz corridor. The U.S. Central Command later announced a counter‑strike against three Iranian crude‑oil tankers.

According to the U.S. statement, an American aircraft carrier and a guided‑missile destroyer successfully avoided the Iranian missile barrage, with no casualties reported among U.S. service members. The IRGC, however, confirmed that its naval forces had targeted three oil tankers and three additional U.S.–linked ships in the area.

In a separate IRGC news release, the agency claimed its aerospace force launched multiple ballistic missiles at the carrier and destroyer, accusing the U.S. ships of harassing Iranian vessels and taking part in a naval blockade. The IRGC also said it struck an unmanned surface vessel that tried to penetrate a protected zone of the Strait.

By reaching out to Ankara and Riyadh, Iran appears to be attempting to forge a broader regional coalition that can pressure Washington to lower its naval posture and restore safe navigation through Hormuz.

--- IANS