Saudi and Pakistani foreign ministers hold talks on the security of Persian Gulf and Red Sea waterways

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed regional developments and de-escalation efforts in a phone call reported on Sunday, 26 July 2026.

The talks centred on the security of vital maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, on which regional trade and global shipping depend. Both sides stressed continued coordination to safeguard the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.

The call followed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea in recent days. For Iran, any diplomatic movement on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz feeds directly into global oil prices and the domestic currency rate.