Pakistan has refused to intervene militarily following recent Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, exposing immediate cracks in a newly formed trilateral alliance. Despite signing a landmark Mecca joint defence agreement alongside Saudi Arabia and Turkey just days ago—which includes a NATO-style collective defence clause—Islamabad has refrained from deploying its army into active combat against the Yemeni rebel group.

Pak runs away from Houthi battlefield, refrains from deploying army against Houthis 

US President Donald Trump has once again paused planned military strikes on Iran, and mentioned new set of talks are about to start. However, Iran has firmly rejected Trump's claims that it requested Washington to halt military action, calling the allegations false.

In this report, we examine the latest developments in the escalating US-Iran crisis, the role of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in preventing a wider regional war, and whether diplomacy can still succeed after months of conflict.


Trump playbook: Threaten massive strikes & then call them off

US President Donald Trump has once again paused planned military strikes on Iran, and mentioned new set of talks are about to start. However, Iran has firmly rejected Trump's claims that it requested Washington to halt military action, calling the allegations false.

In this report, we examine the latest developments in the escalating US-Iran crisis, the role of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in preventing a wider regional war, and whether diplomacy can still succeed after months of conflict.

US-Iran War: Trump says new talks will begin on Monday, Iran denies

US-Iran War: Trump says Iran asked to call off strike, Tehran denies claim

The Iran-backed Houthis say they have targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, reinforcing a maritime blockade strategy that echoes Iran's pressure tactics in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack signals a widening threat to regional shipping and energy routes amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

Red Sea blockade raises fears for global energy, trade routes

On July 30, 2026, Saudi Arabia and 13 other nations officially announced the creation of the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to safeguard critical international shipping corridors. The coalition was formed to defend freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes, and protect vital global energy supply lines. 


Saudi Arabia unveils new Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance

Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, blaming Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq for the attacks.

Ministry of Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said on Monday the attempted attacks took place over the past several hours and described them as terrorist acts launched from Iraqi territory.

Saudi Arabia: Iran-backed militias attempted to target oil facilities

Donald Trump wants more Muslim nations including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and even Iran to normalise ties with Israel under an expanded Abraham Accords framework. But with the Gaza war raging and anger against Israel rising across the Muslim world, can “Abraham Accords 2.0” really succeed? Is this a peace push, a diplomatic diversion, or part of a larger Netanyahu strategy? 

US-Saudi Deal: Trump says Saudi should join Abraham Accords

The United States and Saudi Arabia are reportedly moving closer to a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement. If finalised, the proposed deal would pave the way for civilian nuclear collaboration between the two countries, marking a major step in their strategic partnership.

US-Saudi Deal: Proposed nuke-deal would open path for civil nuclear cooperation 

As tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate, questions are mounting over whether Pakistan could be drawn into the conflict. While Islamabad has tried to position itself as a regional mediator, its longstanding strategic ties with Saudi Arabia could complicate that balancing act and test its policy of neutrality.


Amnesty: Pak strike must be probed as war crime

US-Iran War: Pakistan backs Saudi, condemns Houthi threats

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missiles targeting Saudi Arabia's Abha airport after accusing Riyadh of striking the runway at Sanaa International Airport. Saudi air defences intercepted the missiles with no casualties reported. The exchange marks one of the most significant escalations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia since an informal truce began four years ago.

Yemen claims attack on Sanaa airport

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday inked an agreement with Saudi Arabia to build a modern cricket stadium in Jeddah. The agreement was signed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) chief Saud bin Mishal bin Mohammad Al Saud.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign major cricket deal 

A helicopter belonging to Saudi ​oil giant Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab crashed on Sunday ‌in Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast on the Gulf, west of the Strait of ​Hormuz, killing 14 nationals, the state ​news agency reported, adding that the ⁠cause was unknown.
Aramco had resumed crude oil loadings ​on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal ​in the Gulf after they were halted for nearly four months.

Saudi Arabia: Deadly Aramco helicopter crash kills 14, probe underway 

As heatwaves intensify worldwide, Gulf nations are adapting with innovative solutions. From Saudi Arabia's Green Riyadh project and summer work bans to the UAE's cooling infrastructure, here's how the region is learning to live with extreme temperatures.

Europe's Heatwave Sparks Interest in Gulf Cooling Measures

Saudi?Arabia's powerful?Crown?Prince?called the Supreme?Leader?of?Iran?"the new Hitler of the Middle East" in an interview with the New York Times published on Thursday, sharply escalating the war of words between the arch-rivals

'New Hitler' in Iran should not repeat what happened in Europe: Saudi?Crown?Prince Salman

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