Pezeshkian says U.S. must decide to end seven-month war as Houthis strike Saudi Arabia

September 25, 2026 at 10:59 AM2 min

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States must decide whether to end the seven-month war, in an interview aired Thursday on Fox News. His remarks came as Houthi forces fired dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Friday, prompting emergency alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu. China pressed for de-escalation during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington.

Key Facts

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said it is up to the U.S. to decide whether to end the seven-month war, in an interview aired Thursday on Fox News.
Houthi forces fired dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Friday morning, and Saudi authorities intercepted six ballistic missiles.
Emergency alerts were issued in Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu following the Houthi attack.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan planned an urgent meeting of their chiefs of staff under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
Brent crude futures for November delivery declined 1% to $93.66 a barrel, while WTI futures dropped 0.68% to $105.86 per barrel.

Pezeshkian's Stance

Pezeshkian said it is America that must choose whether it wants to end the war or not, responding to a question about whether the conflict could end by year-end. He sought to distance Tehran from the Houthi escalation, telling Fox News that the Houthis are responsible for their own actions and that Iran is not at war with Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, he said, have their own issues.

Saudi Response and Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti told troops to be ready to lay down their lives to fight the Houthis until the group is ousted from power. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan planned an urgent meeting of their chiefs of staff to discuss ways to support the kingdom under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. The widening front has kept oil markets on edge, with Brent crude futures for November delivery declining 1% to $93.66 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for November dropped 0.68% to $105.86 per barrel. Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz, normally the route for about a fifth of global oil supply, fell to 9, far below peacetime levels, according to Reuters citing preliminary ship-tracking data.

Diplomatic Efforts

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a three-day state visit to the U.S., meeting with President Donald Trump on issues spanning trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and Iran. Zhai Jun, China's special envoy for the Middle East, said at an event in Singapore that the Middle East situation was a big issue in the leaders' discussion and the consensus they reached will be critical to cooling the temperature in the conflict. Trump has sought Beijing's help pressuring Tehran toward a settlement, after indirect U.S.-Iran talks resumed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week.