Speaking after a consultative meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, bin Farhan accused Tehran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and through regional proxies, and urged it to halt further escalation.

“This pressure from Iran will backfire politically and morally and certainly we reserve the right to take military actions if deemed necessary,” he told a news conference.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh, with debris falling near a refinery south of the capital. Interceptors were seen launched near the venue hosting the diplomatic gathering as ministers from countries including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Syria convened.

The strikes marked a significant moment in the conflict, with residents in Riyadh reporting blasts and receiving warning alerts for the first time since hostilities began.

Saudi authorities say the kingdom has faced hundreds of missiles and drones since the start of the conflict, the vast majority of which have been intercepted.

The escalation follows Iran’s vow to target oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf after what it described as an Israeli strike on its facilities in the South Pars gas field.

Attacks on Wednesday affected energy sites in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over global supply disruptions.The widening conflict, now in its third week, has already driven oil prices higher and unsettled energy markets as critical infrastructure comes under repeated threat.

Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations in 2023 after years of rivalry that saw them support opposing factions across the region.

Bin Farhan said Riyadh still preferred diplomacy but warned that continued Iranian actions could eliminate any remaining basis for trust.

“If Iran doesn’t stop immediately, I think there will be almost nothing that can re-establish trust,” he said.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said the younger Khamenei had issued only a written statement following the attacks and had not appeared publicly in audio or video since an Israeli strike early in the war killed members of his family, including his father, former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said. He added that the absence of a public appearance suggested the Iranian leader was injured and in hiding, questioning his legitimacy and ability to govern.Iranian officials have acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded but dispute the severity of the injuries.

Iran’s ambassador to Japan, Peyman Saadat, told Asahi TV that the Iranian leader had suffered injuries during the conflict but remained capable of carrying out his duties. “He is a functioning leader,” Saadat said, adding that his condition had not impaired his ability to govern.

Hegseth and Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. military operations in Iran have focused on degrading Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities as well as elements of its naval forces.

The briefing came as Washington increased military pressure on Iran following nearly two weeks of strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian military infrastructure.

Officials said additional U.S. firepower was being sent to the region as the conflict widened across the Middle East.

During the briefing, Hegseth said U.S. forces would continue their campaign without easing pressure on Iran’s military.

“We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing,” Hegseth said. “No quarter, no mercy for our enemy.

”The phrase “no quarter” refers to refusing to spare an opponent who attempts to surrender, a practice prohibited under the laws of armed conflict.

Reports during the conflict have indicated Iranian drone activity in several countries across the Gulf and Middle East, including Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

The fighting has also affected U.S. forces in the region. Six U.S. service members died in an aircraft crash in Iraq during the conflict, U.S. officials said.

In a social media post, Trump said U.S. forces had “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on the island while deliberately leaving oil export infrastructure intact. Kharg Island, located about 16 miles (26 km) off Iran’s coast, handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

The president said the decision not to strike oil facilities could be reconsidered if Iran or other actors interfere with the “Free and Safe Passage of Ships” through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply moves.

Iran has been attacking vessels in the waterway during the conflict, halting most commercial shipping traffic and intensifying volatility in energy markets.

Kharg Island lies roughly 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the Strait of Hormuz and serves as Iran’s principal crude export terminal. Satellite imagery reviewed by tanker monitoring service TankerTrackers.com showed multiple very large crude carriers loading at the island earlier this week.

Despite escalating military tensions in the Gulf, Iran has continued shipping crude from Kharg. Between Feb. 28, when the conflict began, and Wednesday, exports ranged between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels per day.

Other Gulf producers have temporarily halted shipments because of security concerns linked to Iranian attacks on shipping routes.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump declined to provide a timeline for the conflict’s conclusion.

“I can’t tell you that,” the president said. “I mean, I have my own idea, but what good does it do? It’ll be as long as it’s necessary.

”Oil markets have fluctuated sharply in recent days as investors reacted to shifting signals from Washington about the duration and scope of the conflict.

The United States is sending additional military forces to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate around the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also said Iran had “no ability to defend against U.S. attacks,” urging Iranian forces to lay down their arms.

The confrontation has raised concerns among energy analysts and governments about the risk of a prolonged disruption to global oil supply, with the International Energy Agency previously warning that the conflict could trigger one of the largest supply shocks in modern energy markets.

The military said naval ships were deployed to accompany commercial vessels to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and maintain the security of sea lines of communication, which are critical for the country’s economy.

The escort operation was launched to counter what the military described as “multidimensional threats” to national shipping and maritime commerce. Pakistan relies heavily on sea routes for trade, with the armed forces noting that roughly 90 percent of the country’s commerce moves by sea.

Officials said maintaining secure maritime corridors was essential to ensuring the continuity of energy imports and broader economic stability.

Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran in its southwest, depends significantly on oil and gas supplies from Gulf producers.

Amid concerns about supply disruptions linked to the regional conflict, the government raised domestic fuel prices by about 20 percent last week, triggering long lines at petrol stations across the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a series of austerity measures aimed at conserving fuel, including closing government offices one day a week and directing half of public-sector staff to work from home.

Authorities also ordered schools to shut for two weeks as part of the effort to reduce fuel consumption and limit transport demand.

The military said naval forces remained fully prepared to respond to emerging maritime security challenges but did not provide further details about the scope or duration of the escort operations.

The move comes as heightened tensions across the Gulf region raise concerns among energy importers about potential disruptions to shipping routes and oil supplies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring states affected by Iranian strikes on U.S. military facilities in the region, urging them not to participate in the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.“I personally apologize to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” Pezeshkian said, according to remarks reported on Saturday.He rejected Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender, describing it as unrealistic. Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries unless military strikes against Iran were launched from their territory.The comments drew criticism from hardline factions within Iran, prompting Pezeshkian’s office to clarify that Iran’s military would respond decisively to any attacks originating from U.S. bases in the region.Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on state television there was no division among Iranian officials over how the war was being managed.The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The conflict has intensified tensions across the Gulf, where several countries host U.S. military installations.Saudi Arabia warned Tehran that continued attacks on the kingdom or its energy infrastructure could prompt retaliation, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported Iranian drone strikes on Saturday and early Sunday. Officials said the attacks caused varying degrees of damage but no fatalities.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also targeted U.S. forces at a military base in Bahrain, Iranian state media reported.The escalating exchanges have raised concerns among Gulf states that the conflict could broaden further across the region, threatening energy infrastructure and key shipping routes.Global impact and security concernsThe war has also triggered wider international repercussions. Rising tensions in the region have contributed to higher energy prices and disrupted global logistics and commercial activity tied to Middle Eastern shipping and oil production.In Europe, a blast struck the U.S. embassy in Oslo, though authorities said the cause remained unknown.As military operations continued, governments across the region have sought to balance security concerns with efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional war involving additional states and armed groups.