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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah on Monday, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.
The meeting focused on Saudi-US relations and the latest developments across the region.
Saudi Minister of State, Cabinet member and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban also attended the meeting.
The talks came as tensions continue to rise around Saudi Arabia, Yemen and major regional shipping routes.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of renewed fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis.
The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi military and energy targets.
On Monday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.
He claimed the attack targeted aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, ammunition depots and other military facilities.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm the reported damage.
Saudi Civil Defence issued an alert in Khamis Mushait but later said the danger had passed. It urged residents to follow official safety instructions.
The regional tensions have also prompted sharp statements from Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members were using multilateral forums to oppose what he described as US unilateralism.
Yemen Fighting Intensifies as 82,000 Civilians Flee Western Coast
Baghaei rejected claims that Iran could be isolated. He argued that countries defending themselves could not simply be sidelined.
He also criticised US policies towards Iran and accused Washington of undermining international institutions.
Iran has continued to use BRICS and the SCO as platforms for diplomatic engagement with countries outside the Western alliance system.
Iran also said a planned meeting with Gulf countries in Oman had been postponed at Saudi Arabia’s request.
Baghaei said Riyadh asked that the meeting not take place for the time being.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi separately said the regional meeting in Salalah had been postponed in the interest of consensus.
Iran said the meeting would have provided an opportunity to discuss maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran also said its understanding with Oman on shipping routes remained finalised. The two countries would decide their next steps through further consultations.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on Iran’s account of the postponement.
The diplomatic setback came as tensions continued around the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway remains a critical route for global energy supplies. Recent incidents have raised concerns about shipping and oil markets.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority also published an updated list of 77 vessels it accused of violating Iranian protocols.
The authority warned that listed vessels could face restrictions, fines, detention or confiscation.
It also warned insurance companies, protection and indemnity clubs and classification societies against providing services to the vessels.
Meanwhile, preliminary ship-tracking data showed commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had fallen to single-digit numbers per day over the weekend.
The regional crisis has also affected Saudi oil transportation.
Saudi Arabia kept its major east-west oil pipeline closed after drone strikes damaged the route on Friday, according to reports cited in the source material.
The pipeline links Saudi oil facilities in the east with the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It provides an alternative route that can reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia has not publicly provided full details about the damage or confirmed how long repairs will take.
Industry sources cited by Reuters offered different estimates for the repair timeline.
The disruption has added pressure to global oil markets at a time when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz already faces major uncertainty.
China called for restraint and dialogue as violence involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia continued.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing was concerned about civilian casualties and damage to energy and civilian infrastructure.
He said attacks on infrastructure that affects people’s livelihoods were unacceptable.
China called for respect for the sovereignty and security of all countries. It also urged regional parties to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels.
South Korea similarly condemned reported Houthi attacks on civilian and economic facilities in southern Saudi Arabia.
Seoul expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and called for an immediate end to the attacks.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates also agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he discussed regional developments with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
The two sides discussed efforts to reduce tensions and promote regional stability.
At the same time, Iran continued to reject allegations surrounding its nuclear activities and other military developments.
The overlapping diplomatic and military developments highlight the growing security challenges facing the Middle East.
For Saudi Arabia and the United States, the meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Admiral Brad Cooper comes at a particularly sensitive moment.
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