Iran Sends Ceasefire Terms to U.S. via Qatar; Saudi Forces Report Attack Near Riyadh

Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei confirmed on Saturday that Tehran has conveyed formal conditions for ending the war to the United States through Qatari mediators. The conditions include an end to hostilities on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports and around the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei told Al Jazeera that Iran is awaiting President Donald Trump's response, while simultaneous discussions with Pakistani mediators are ongoing. He stated that accepting Iran's terms would be in Washington's interest and that Trump's threats would not achieve results, while insisting Tehran is prepared for continued conflict if necessary.

The diplomatic initiative comes amid escalating regional violence. Saudi authorities reported smoke and flames near Riyadh's airport on Saturday morning following overnight explosions. Yemen's Houthi movement, which controls populous areas in Yemen's north, claimed responsibility for attacking "sensitive sites" in Riyadh using ballistic missiles and drones, including a facility belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu. Saudi forces indicated they thwarted the attack. The Houthis, described as Iran-aligned, have been launching strikes against Saudi targets since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with previous attacks targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.

Rezaei outlined Iran's military posture, noting that planning has shifted to focus on U.S. naval assets across the Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea. He said Iran had recently test-fired a multi-warhead antiship missile and warned that any future Iranian response would be intense, targeting U.S. bases and commercial interests in the region. He did not rule out further U.S. strikes, calling such a possibility "very much on the cards" based on military assessments.

The ceasefire proposal represents a formal step in mediation efforts following the expiration of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries last month. The original MoU was signed in June 2026. The U.S. withdrew support for the agreement in July when the Treasury Department cancelled temporary measures suspending sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Rezaei indicated that Iran has shifted its strategy toward Washington following this development.

Yemen's foreign minister Afrah al-Zouba stated on Friday that Yemen should not be used as a bargaining chip in regional disputes and rejected what she described as Iranian support strengthening Houthi capabilities. She emphasized that restoring Yemeni state authority over its coast, ports, and islands was essential to regional security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait.

As of Saturday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson told state television that Iran has not received any response from the United States following its transmission of ceasefire conditions. Pakistani Interior Minister Nakvi is scheduled to visit Tehran on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties, though the spokesperson indicated this visit is not expected to carry messages from Washington.