Saudi Arabia appeals for Calm after ‘dangerous’ US-Iran escalation

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday appealed for calm after a “very dangerous” escalation following the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone strike.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan s appeal came as the US warned that Saudi Arabia faced a “heightened risk” of missile and drone attacks after Tehran vowed to avenge last week s assassination of Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

“It s certainly a very dangerous moment. We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and provocation.” Prince Faisal told reporters in Riyadh.

Prince Faisal spoke after a meeting of foreign ministers of Arab and African coastal states, including Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, aimed at enhancing regional security, Saudi state media reported.

The killing of Soleimani, seen as the second most powerful man in Iran, is the most dramatic escalation yet in spiralling tensions between Washington and Tehran, prompting fears of a major conflict in the Middle East.