Pakistan, Saudi Arabia push diplomacy as China backs Islamabad’s mediation on Middle East crisis

• Dar, Prince Faisal reaffirm ‘close bilateral ties,’ stress dialogue to ease escalating regional tensions

• China pledges firm support for Pakistan’s efforts to advance US-Iran ceasefire and lasting peace

• Wang Yi urges return to negotiations as conflict widens across Gulf and Red Sea

• Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities heighten fears of broader regional war and energy disruptions

• US pauses air strikes on Iran after two weeks as diplomatic efforts gather momentum

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Saturday reaffirmed their close and brotherly ties and stressed the importance of sustained diplomacy and constructive engagement to defuse escalating tensions in the Middle East, as China reiterated its firm support for Pakistan's mediation efforts following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran amid the widening regional conflict.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud @FaisalbinFarhan.

The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the… pic.twitter.com/MOSvnhktyl

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 25, 2026

“The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” the statement said.

The FO added that both leaders underscored the importance of “continued diplomacy” and reaffirmed their shared commitment to “promoting constructive engagement, peace and stability” across the region.

The Middle East crisis, which has continued for nearly six months, has affected regional stability and disrupted energy supplies, with its repercussions extending well beyond the region.

The development came as Yemen’s Houthis launched attacks on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports on Saturday, raising fresh concerns that the conflict disrupting Gulf energy supplies could spread to another vital maritime corridor and further intensify Yemen’s long-running war.

 China reaffirms support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts

Meanwhile, China reiterated its strong backing for Pakistan’s diplomatic role, with the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying in a post on X that Beijing highly appreciated Pakistan’s key role in facilitating the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.

Chinese FM Wang Yi met with Pakistan’s Deputy PM ＆ FM Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Kyrgyzstan.#China and #Pakistan should actively advance exchanges at all levels and cooperation across various fields, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a… pic.twitter.com/cyUWnOv8si

— Lin Jian 林剑 (@SpoxCHN_LinJian) July 25, 2026

“China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in its efforts to mediate, promote the return of all parties to dialogue and negotiations, and achieve a lasting ceasefire,” the spokesperson said.

According to the statement, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting.

Both leaders emphasised that China and Pakistan should actively advance exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation across diverse sectors and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Separately, Chinese state broadcaster CGTN reported that China had backed Pakistan’s mediation role as both sides agreed to further strengthen strategic cooperation during the SCO meeting.

The broadcaster cited the meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, noting that “China praised Pakistan's role in facilitating the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and expressed support for its continued mediation efforts.”

It added that both countries agreed to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and strengthen coordination at regional and multilateral forums.

The report also quoted Ishaq Dar as reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to “peace mediation and closer cooperation” with China to promote “regional peace, stability and development.”

Meanwhile, Dar reposted the CGTN post on his official X account.

*CGTN | 25-07-2026*

*China Backs Pakistan's Mediation Role as Both Sides Expand Strategic Cooperation at SCO Meeting*

* Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistan *Deputy* *Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar* on the sidelines of the SCO foreign ministers'… pic.twitter.com/m2PBwYYzND

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 25, 2026

Wang Yi meets Iranian Foreign Minister

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Kyrgyzstan.

According to a post on X, Wang Yi expressed China’s deep concern over the renewed escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

Chinese FM Wang Yi met with Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Kyrgyzstan.

China is deeply concerned about the renewed escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region. The door to negotiations, once opened, should not be closed, and as long as there is hope for… pic.twitter.com/bEODEA0vZ5

— Lin Jian 林剑 (@SpoxCHN_LinJian) July 25, 2026

“The door to negotiations, once opened, should not be closed, and as long as there is hope for peace, it should not be given up,” he stressed.

He said the immediate priority was to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiations and resume implementation of the consensus reached under the memorandum of understanding.

The situation appeared to enter a different phase as the United States refrained from launching air strikes on Iran for the first night in two weeks. Washington did not immediately explain the halt in its escalating strikes after an interim agreement to end hostilities collapsed following Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the relative calm in Iran, there were also no immediate reports on Saturday of fresh Iranian attacks on Gulf states, which had previously been occurring daily in response to US strikes.

However, tensions remained high as the Iran-aligned Houthis expanded the conflict by targeting key energy infrastructure in the region.

Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis launched attacks on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports, while Saudi-backed forces carried out strikes against Houthi positions, opening another front in the widening Gulf conflict.

 In Yanbu, two ballistic missiles targeting oil facilities were intercepted by a US-made Patriot air defence battery operated in Saudi Arabia by the Greek military under an agreement with Riyadh, according to Greek security sources.

Yanbu is Saudi Arabia’s principal Red Sea oil export terminal, where millions of barrels of crude are loaded daily, and has become a vital export route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran. Jizan, located on the Red Sea near the Yemeni border, hosts a refinery with a processing capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia has led an Arab coalition fighting the Houthis for more than a decade after the Iran-aligned group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country’s north and west, including the Red Sea coastline.

The Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia over the past week, with Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warning that all Saudi oil facilities would become targets if Riyadh escalated its involvement in the conflict.

The move threatens to further disrupt global oil supplies already affected by the Iran conflict and has contributed to a sharp increase in international oil prices, with Brent crude rising above $100 a barrel for the first time since May.

Amid the escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump on Friday vowed “major military punishment” for Tehran and the Houthis after the group claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday.

The Saudi-led coalition said it would continue taking all necessary measures to protect maritime navigation and Saudi Arabia’s strategic interests, warning that it would respond “uncompromisingly” if the Houthis continued their hostile actions.