Germany Wadephul continues his crisis trip on the Iran war in Riyadh
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is continuing his crisis visit to countries affected by the Iran war in Saudi Arabia. The CDU politician met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in the capital Riyadh in the evening. Wadephul also wanted to sound out what prospects the government in the Gulf kingdom sees for an end to the attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran and for the time afterwards.
11.03.2026, 05:13
SDA
On Sunday, there were fatalities in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the start of the Iran war as a result of a suspected Iranian attack. Two people were killed when a projectile hit a residential building in the al-Kharch governorate south-east of the capital Riyadh, said a spokesman for the Saudi civil defense.
Oil manager warns of catastrophic consequences of blockade
Despite an ongoing economic restructuring, Saudi Arabia remains heavily dependent on oil revenues. Accordingly, the country relies on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world's oil is normally transported.
The managing director of the state oil company Aramco, Amin Nasser, reportedly said that a blockade of the sea route would have "catastrophic consequences" for the energy markets. Aramco is already unable to deliver oil via the Persian Gulf due to the disruptions caused by the Iran war.
USA withdrew embassy staff
Saudi Arabia has been the target of several Iranian counter-attacks since Israel and the USA began their attacks on Iran on February 28. The US embassy in Riyadh was also attacked by two drones. According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, this resulted in minor material damage. In view of the security situation, the USA instructed some of its embassy staff to leave the country.
Before traveling on to Saudi Arabia, Wadephul had visited Israel on Tuesday, the first European foreign minister to do so since the beginning of the war. Israel and the USA jointly attacked Iran at the end of February. Israel feels that its existence is massively threatened by the Iranian missile and nuclear program. The USA also refers to the threat posed by the Iranian leadership.
