The US called yesterday for Saudi Arabia and Iran to show restraint amid fears the sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries could deepen proxy wars in Syria and Yemen and scupper fragile efforts to forge international solutions to the conflicts.
The potential increase in sectarian friction across the region could also affect countries ranging from Lebanon to Iraq and would make it even harder to mount an effective international military coalition against Isis, analysts said.
In a bid to prevent a further deepening of the diplomatic crisis, John Kerry, US secretary of state, yesterday spoke to deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi press agency, having already called Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Mohammad Zarif, on Sunday night.