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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed Washington’s security commitment to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks and the wider US-Iran conflict raise tensions across the Middle East.
“We have a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. We intend to live up to our commitments on it. We will,” Rubio told Fox News on Tuesday, describing the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthis as “very dangerous and complicated.”
His comments came as President Donald Trump prepared to meet leaders and representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The talks are expected to focus on the war with Iran and the next phase of the conflict.
The planned meeting involves representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, with regional security and the future course of the Iran conflict among the issues under discussion.
Washington keeps door open to Iran talks
Rubio separately said the United States was open to talks with Iranian officials during the UN General Assembly, although no meeting had been scheduled.
“We’re open to that,” Rubio said in an interview with NBC’s Today show, adding that Washington would consider discussions if they offered prospects for a positive outcome.
Rubio said the US objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The comments came as Iranian officials signalled a possible opening for diplomacy. Reuters reported Tuesday that a senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within days if Washington lifted its blockade, describing the UN gathering as an opportunity to revive negotiations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also attending the UN General Assembly, putting senior US and Iranian officials in the same diplomatic setting for the first time since the conflict began in February.
UN condemns Houthi attacks
The diplomatic activity comes as fighting has intensified in and around Yemen.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the United Nations condemned continued Houthi cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia, including an attempted attack targeting Riyadh. He also cited attacks affecting civilians and energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom.
The UN called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation while complying with international humanitarian law, including protections for civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The UN has also expressed concern about the Houthi offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces in Taiz, Lahj and Marib. According to UN humanitarian officials, more than 21,000 households were displaced in Yemen over the weekend, with the number expected to rise as registration continues.
G7 demands end to Houthi attacks
The Group of Seven foreign ministers also condemned what they described as continued Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued after an informal meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the G7 called on the Houthis to halt military operations and attacks or threats against civilian shipping and return to the political process.
The ministers also urged Iran to stop arming and supporting the Houthis, arguing that continued support risks further regional escalation and disruption to international trade.
The renewed violence has also affected maritime security. The Houthis have expanded their activities around Yemen’s Red Sea coast, while Saudi Arabia has faced attacks involving drones and missiles. The escalation has raised concerns about the security of shipping routes and regional energy supplies.
Saudi Arabia caught between regional war and diplomacy
Saudi Arabia occupies a central position in the current crisis because of its security relationship with Washington, its involvement in Yemen and its geographic proximity to Iran and key maritime routes.
Rubio’s renewed assurance of US support comes as Gulf governments face pressure from both the military escalation and the possibility of wider regional disruption.
Saudi and other Gulf markets remained cautious on Tuesday as investors monitored developments around the US-Iran conflict and Houthi advances near Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
At the same time, diplomatic channels remain open. Iran has indicated it could discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz under certain conditions, while Washington says it remains open to discussions if Iran can demonstrate progress on its stated objectives.
What happens next
Trump’s meetings with Gulf leaders and the possibility of US-Iran contacts at the UN could provide a new diplomatic channel while fighting continues in Yemen.
For Saudi Arabia, the immediate issue remains security against Houthi attacks. For Washington, the challenge is balancing its stated security commitments to Gulf partners with its broader objective of ending the conflict with Iran and preventing further regional escalation.
The competing military and diplomatic developments mean the UN General Assembly is becoming an important venue for discussions over the next phase of the Middle East conflict.