Iranian President Pezeshkian holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince Salman

As the U.S. announced it would conduct an air exercise in the Middle East region by increasing its military buildup in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

According to a statement from the Iranian Presidential Office, Pezeshkian conveyed his gratitude to Muslim countries for the support they have provided to the Tehran administration during the call.

The statement noted, "Pezeshkian emphasized that instability in the region would benefit no one and warned against psychological and political activities that would jeopardize the region's stability."

Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Iran's readiness to support any process aimed at peace, de-escalation in the region, and the prevention of potential conflicts.

The statement further indicated that Crown Prince Salman told Pezeshkian that the Riyadh administration rejects any aggression against Iran and is ready to work with Iran and other countries in the region to help ensure lasting peace and security.

U.S. exercise announcement

In a statement issued by the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT), it was stated, "AFCENT will conduct a readiness exercise lasting several days to demonstrate the ability to deploy, maneuver, and operationally sustain combat air power across the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility."

It was stated that the exercise in question was carried out to increase asset and personnel deployment capacity, strengthen regional partnerships, and prepare for flexible response practices across CENTCOM.

The exercise was announced one day after CENTCOM announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships had arrived in the Middle East.