Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) amid rising regional tensions, as a U.S. aircraft carrier was deployed to the area and fears mounted over a potential new conflict involving Iran, Israel, or Washington. The call took place after the United States sent the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the region. In recent weeks, Washington has signaled it is considering military options against Iran following Tehran’s harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also openly threatened the use of military force, although he has stated that he hopes such action will not be necessary.

During the phone call on Tuesday (January 27, 2026), Pezeshkian criticized what he described as threats from the United States. According to an official statement from Iran’s presidency, Pezeshkian asserted that such pressure aims to undermine regional security and would lead only to greater instability.

He further pointed to recent acts of hostility and pressure against Iran, including economic sanctions and external interference, emphasizing that these measures have failed to weaken the resilience or awareness of the Iranian people, the statement said, as reported by Al Jazeera.

In the same statement, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the dialogue and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to regional stability, security, and development. He stressed the importance of solidarity among Islamic nations and said Riyadh rejects any form of aggression or escalation against Iran, while expressing Saudi Arabia’s readiness to help foster peace and security across the region.

The direct contact between Tehran and Riyadh comes after Trump repeatedly threatened to strike Iran during a wave of violent crackdowns on anti-government protests this month. Last week, Trump said he had dispatched an “armada” toward Iran, while reiterating his hope that military force would not be required.

Amid growing fears of a new war, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also issued a stern warning to neighboring countries on Tuesday. Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the IRGC navy’s political deputy, said neighboring states are considered friends, but if their land, airspace, or waters are used against Iran, they would be treated as hostile parties.

Regional tensions have intensified since June, when Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran targeting senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and nuclear facilities. The United States later joined the 12-day conflict by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites.

The conflict erupted ahead of planned negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program. However, talks have not resumed since the fighting ended.

Trump has repeatedly demanded that Iran dismantle its nuclear program and halt uranium enrichment. On Monday, a U.S. official said Washington remains open to dialogue with Tehran, noting that Iran is aware of the conditions being set.

Nevertheless, prospects for an agreement are seen as slim. Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that the likelihood of Iran yielding to U.S. demands is “close to zero.” He said Iranian leaders believe that compromise under pressure does not ease tensions but instead invites further pressure.

As the United States continues to bolster its military presence in the region, Iran has warned it will retaliate if attacked. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned that the consequences of any strike on Iran would not be confined to one country, stressing that insecurity in the region would spread beyond Iran’s borders.