Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that its land and airspace will not be used for any military action against Tehran, sources close to the Kingdom’s government said on Wednesday, as tensions continue to rise between Iran and the United States.
According to two sources cited by an international news agency, the message was conveyed directly to Tehran amid warnings from US that it could respond to Iran’s handling of protests. Iranian officials have previously said they would target US military and shipping assets if any new attack was launched against the country.
“Saudi Arabia has informed Tehran directly that it will not be part of any military action taken against it, and that its territory and airspace will not be used for that purpose,” a source close to the Saudi military has said.
A second source close to the government confirmed that the message had been communicated to Iranian authorities.
The United States maintains military assets across the Gulf region, including in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in the kingdom urged its personnel to exercise “increased caution” due to the evolving regional situation.
Earlier, Qatar said the removal of some personnel from Al Udeid Air Base was linked to what it described as “current regional tensions.” In a statement, Qatar’s International Media Office said the country “continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority.”
The statement added that steps were being taken to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.