The Iran conflict expanded into new flashpoints across the Middle East as Tehran-backed Houthi forces targeted Saudi energy infrastructure while Washington paused further strikes amid concerns over a broader regional war.
Houthis Target Saudi Oil Facilities
On Saturday, the Iran war showed signs of widening beyond the Persian Gulf as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed attacks on Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast, reported Reuters.
Tehran accused Ukraine of targeting an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.
The U.S. military said its naval blockade against Iran "remains in full effect" but did not provide details on why American strikes had paused after nearly two weeks of escalation.
A senior Trump administration official said President Donald Trump "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy," adding that the U.S. had demonstrated what would happen if Iran refused to engage in serious negotiations.
The New York Times reported Trump had stepped back from plans to intensify strikes after advisers raised concerns about expanding the conflict, exhausting U.S. military resources, straining relations with Gulf allies and threatening global energy markets.
Red Sea Tensions Rise
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group attacked facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu.
Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port has become increasingly important as an alternative export route while Iran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia’s missile defenses intercepted attacks targeting Yanbu, while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched strikes against Houthi positions in response.
Officials said both sides were mobilizing forces along front lines, raising concerns that Yemen’s fragile ceasefire could collapse.
Separately, Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, saying the incident killed one sailor and injured another.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referenced successful long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea but did not identify specific targets.
Ukraine continues applying long‑range sanctions in response to Russian strikes. Last night, the warriors of our Defense Forces hit targets across different regions of Russia that are fueling this war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 25, 2026
Once again, a plant in Kirov was struck – the one supplying components for the… pic.twitter.com/D0Z6bFRiww
Trump Weighs Bigger Iran Strike
Last week, Trump said he was close to deciding on a "massive attack" against Iran, while Pakistan reportedly worked to restart stalled negotiations.
The President said U.S. forces were prepared and warned Iran had "not received enough pain yet."
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticized U.S. asset seizure plans, warning they could set a dangerous global precedent and fuel instability.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Below the Sky / Shutterstock
