Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Encouraging Houthi Attacks as EU-Gulf Summit and Major Sports Events Are Postponed

Since the Houthis began hammering Saudi airports earlier this month, the damage has spread from runways to the kingdom's diplomatic and entertainment calendar. On Thursday, Oct. 15, Riyadh pointed the finger at Tehran, and events built around Saudi Arabia's global image began to slip.

Riyadh blames Iran

Rayed Krimly, the foreign ministry's deputy minister for public diplomacy, told reporters in a virtual briefing that Iran is encouraging the latest escalation. "We think that the escalation by the Houthis at this latest stage of the conflict is encouraged by Iran," he said.

Krimly said Iran "continues to arm, train and support the Houthi militia" in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and of its commitments under the Beijing agreement, the deal that restored Saudi-Iranian diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift.

He also said Saudi Arabia asked the Houthis to meet in Muscat, Oman, at the start of the escalation and that they refused. By his account, that was the last communication, a few weeks ago.

The channel to Tehran is still open. Krimly said the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers spoke by phone at least once during the airport attacks. "Overall, it doesn't seem yet that the Iranians are able to provide the necessary concessions for a solution," he said. Saudi Arabia has not asked Iran to mediate, he added, and Oman is a facilitator of Houthi talks, not a mediator.

Iran's account differs. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as recently as Thursday, called the Saudi blockade on the Houthis unjust and illegal. Iran's government has said it is open to dialogue on ending the fighting. The Houthis, for their part, describe their strikes as a response to Saudi attacks on Yemen. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said Wednesday that "operations toward Saudi depths will continue in the coming days."

The coalition's numbers

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the Houthis have attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh 20 times since Oct. 1. He put the toll from attacks on Saudi airports, including Abha, at 19 dead and 364 wounded. Krimly called the attacks war crimes.

Al-Maliki said the coalition has destroyed 127 weapons warehouses in Yemen's mountains, along with launch pads, and that the Houthis have built storage sites in Sanaa, Saada and Amran. He said the group obtained ballistic missiles, drones and explosive-laden fast boats with help from "regional actors," and he did not name them.

The deadliest single strike hit Riyadh's airport on Saturday, Oct. 10, killing 13 people and wounding more than 300, according to Saudi accounts. A projectile hit the same airport the next day and killed one more. Tallies have shifted between briefings, from 17 to 19 dead depending on the count, as the wounded and later deaths were added.

On Tuesday night, a strike on Aramco's executive offices in Dhahran caused a limited fire. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy confirmed it, and no injuries were reported.

Postponements pile up

The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council announced Thursday that a joint summit planned in Saudi Arabia next week is postponed. The GCC secretariat cited "continued attempts by the terrorist Houthi militia to target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its civilian infrastructure." The summit is to be rescheduled, and no new date has been announced.

Sports followed. The Six Kings Slam, an exhibition featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien and Alex de Minaur, was moved from the end of October to Dec. 27. Saudi authorities blamed organizational and logistical challenges. Netflix is expected to stream it.

The FIFAe Finals 2026, co-hosted by FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation and due to begin Friday, were postponed after the Japan and Brazil teams withdrew. Organizers said the decision followed an assessment of regional developments and their effect on logistics. The Saudi Pro League has also postponed several matches.

That hits a core piece of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan, which leans on sports and tourism to wean the economy off oil. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at a Riyadh energy conference that "energy security can't be taken for granted" and that "our response must be equally serious." Oil climbed above $105 a barrel on Monday.

Stalled diplomacy

Krimly's briefing also repeated Saudi appeals for more military help from allies, the United States among them. The attacks have exposed how hard it is for the kingdom to intercept missiles and drones aimed at airports.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk has said he is appalled by the attacks and urged both sides to step back.

It is unclear whether the Muscat channel revives. Riyadh says the Houthis walked away from it. The Houthis say more strikes are coming. Operations at King Khalid International Airport remain suspended after the attacks, and the postponed EU-Gulf summit has no new date.