STORY: Saudi Arabia reserves the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran has been shattered, the Saudi foreign minister said early on Thursday (March 19), after Riyadh was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles.

Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday (March 18) in a major escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war that sent oil prices shooting higher, and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In the harshest comments to come out of the Gulf kingdom in nearly three weeks of war, Farhan accused Iran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and via an array of regional proxies which he urged Tehran to reign in.

Bin Farhan said Saudi Arabia still preferred the path of diplomacy, but "if Iran doesn't stop immediately … I think there will be almost nothing that can re-establish trust."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN, ADDRESSING NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING MEETING OF TOP DIPLOMATS FROM THE REGION

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MARCH 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, APPROACHING PODIUM

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, SAYING:

“And I think that’s the clearest signal of how Iran feels about diplomacy. It doesn’t believe in talking to its neighbours. It tries to pressure its neighbours. And what I can say categorically, that’s not going to work. The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure.”

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, SAYING:

“On the contrary, this pressure will backfire, will backfire politically, will backfire I believe morally and certainly as we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary and if the time comes, the leadership of the kingdom will take the necessary decision.”

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, SAYING:

“I have not had a long enough diplomatic career to have experienced such a blatant attempt of blackmail as firing missiles while a diplomatic gathering is taking place.”

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, SAYING:

“If Iran doesn't stop, that is the mood also I heard in this room earlier, immediately, I think there will be almost nothing that can reestablish that trust.”

9. SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, LEAVING PODIUM

10. ATTENDEES STANDING UP AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE