Saudi Arabia Angry, Ready to Retaliate Against Iran
Saudi Arabia is furious after Iran launched attacks on a number of facilities linked to the United States (US) within its territory. Saudi is preparing to retaliate against Iran.
Summarised by detikcom, Wednesday 4 March 2026, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in January. At that time, MBS stressed that he would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from Saudi territory.
On Saturday 28 February, the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran. The strike killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran then launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in Gulf countries. One of the countries affected by Iran’s retaliatory strikes was Saudi Arabia.
Explosions were heard in Riyadh on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later issued the strongest possible condemnations of the Iran attack. Saudi said the attack had been successfully intercepted.
“The attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or by any means, and the attack occurred despite Iranian authorities knowing that the Kingdom had stated it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran,” according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
Despite Saudi protests, Iran continued its retaliatory strikes against US facilities. On Tuesday 3 March, Iran’s drone attack struck the United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s strikes also hit the CIA headquarters in Riyadh. There were no reports of casualties from Iran’s attacks in Saudi.
Saudi Arabia Ready to Retaliate Against Iran
Most recently, the Saudi government warned that it has a “full right” to respond to Iran’s attacks that hit Riyadh and other areas of the country. Saudi described the series of Iranian attacks as “blatant and cowardly”.
The warning, reported by Arab News on Wednesday 4 March 2026, was delivered during a Cabinet session on Tuesday 3 March evening. The meeting was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who also serves as Saudi Prime Minister, via video conference.
“The Kingdom reiterates its full right to take all necessary measures to protect the security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and its vital interests, including options to respond to the aggression,” according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In that Cabinet session, Saudi authorities also emphasised solidarity with neighbouring countries whose territories were targeted by Iran’s retaliatory attack on US facilities. This signals a united front against regional threats.
“Reaffirming the full solidarity of Saudi Arabia with the friendly countries whose territories are targeted by Iran’s openly aggressive actions,” SPA said.
Saudi Defence Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki announced that the country’s air defences can intercept a number of threats. However, the US Embassy experienced a “limited fire” and minor material damage.
Al-Malki further announced that Saudi forces had intercepted and destroyed eight additional drones targeting Riyadh and Al-Kharj on Tuesday morning, 3 March. In a separate statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the attack on the embassy violated the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“Iran’s repeated behaviour of this sort will push the region towards further escalation,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry warned.