Saudi Arabia has prioritized diplomatic channels to manage tensions with Iran amid ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, airports, and oil facilities. High-level talks in Tehran on October 26 involving Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, alongside Pakistani and Turkish officials, focused on preventing escalation and resuming negotiations, marking the first such contact since the regional conflict intensified. Riyadh has warned Tehran that persistent strikes on Saudi territory could prompt retaliation or expanded cooperation with U.S. forces, while emphasizing openness to mediation. Broader U.S.-Israel-Iran dynamics and upcoming U.S. midterm elections add uncertainty, but Saudi economic priorities and the Mecca defense pact framework favor de-escalation over direct military engagement with Iran.