Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation on Sunday to discuss regional developments and diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two ministers reviewed the latest developments amid the current situation and explored diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the ongoing regional tensions, as stated by the Saudi Foreign Ministry. Bin Farhan reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to maintaining its role in promoting regional security and stability, which aligns with the shared interests of all countries and peoples in the area.

Earlier this year, the US and Iran had signed a ceasefire in April, followed by a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June, aiming to end their military conflict and establish a lasting peace agreement. However, this agreement fell apart last month when the US initiated 13 consecutive days of bombardment on Iran, attributing attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Tehran. In response, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on Gulf nations hosting US assets.

Washington has demanded that Iran cease its attacks on vessels and ensure the freedom of navigation through the strait. Conversely, Tehran advocates for the governance of ship traffic through the adjacent waters to be under a mechanism supervised by Iran.

US President Donald Trump recently stated that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries requested more time to finalize a peace deal framework, noting that Israel has also committed to the effort. However, Iranian military officials refuted Trump's claim, dismissing it as a 'lie,' and a source close to Iran's negotiating team denied reports of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.