Iran says Saudi Arabia, Houthis have not answered mediation offer

CAIRO: Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis to its offer to help broker talks to end the fighting between them, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday.

Araqchi offered to help facilitate dialogue as the Iran-aligned Houthis intensified strikes on Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

In the interview with Iraq's Al Ekhbariya TV, Araqchi also responded to the possibility of Egypt joining Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis.

"Any foreign intervention would complicate matters," he said, adding that Cairo had previously told Tehran it would "not directly" interfere in the Yemeni conflict.

Egypt has said it is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with the support it needs to defend its security, potentially raising the stakes in the Middle East.

A vote in the Egyptian parliament on a possible military move against the Houthi fighters was delayed until Oct 26. Egypt has one of the largest militaries in the Arab world.