Iran Strikes Saudi Facilities Threaten US-Iran Talks

Efforts to broker talks between the United States and Iran faced mounting risks on Tuesday as Iranian strikes targeted Saudi Arabian industrial facilities, potentially derailing mediation just hours before a U.S. deadline for ending the blockade of Gulf oil shipments. Two Pakistani sources familiar with the discussions described the next few hours as critical, warning that any Saudi retaliation could collapse the dialogue and pull Islamabad into the five-week-old conflict under its defense pact with Riyadh.

The strikes intensified overnight, with Iran launching seven ballistic missiles and several drones at Saudi Arabia's eastern region. Saudi air defenses intercepted the barrage, but debris fell near power facilities, and a fire broke out at a petrochemical complex in Jubail operated by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. Witnesses reported loud explosions, and damage assessments were underway. The attacks came amid escalating U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which Tehran has vowed to counter by targeting American allies in the Gulf.

President Donald Trump issued the ultimatum on Monday, giving Iran until 8 p.m. Washington time, or 3:30 a.m. in Tehran, to reopen the Strait of...