U.S.-Iran War Threatens Saudi-Iran Peace Deal As Yemen And Hormuz Tensions Explode

The widening US-Iran conflict is testing the Saudi-Iran détente that restored diplomatic ties in 2023. The immediate flashpoint is Yemen, where a strike on Sanaa airport, aimed at stopping an Iranian aircraft, prompted Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport. No casualties were reported, but the exchange ended years of relative cross-border calm. Meanwhile, renewed US strikes, Iran’s threats around the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial tankers are increasing pressure across the Gulf. Riyadh and Tehran still have diplomatic channels, but repeated retaliation could hollow out their peace deal and revive a broader regional confrontation.