Araghchi speaks to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in one day as Saudi air defence downs Houthi missile aimed at Medina

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone on Thursday with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani about "regional developments and the latest diplomatic efforts", Iran's foreign ministry said. In the morning he also spoke with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi.

According to Reuters, Qatari and Pakistani mediators are working on an interim deal that would halt attacks on shipping in exchange for lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports; responses are expected within about 36 hours.

A missile towards Medina

Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired towards the Medina region. The Houthis have been advancing in Yemen in recent weeks and, according to the Wall Street Journal, demanded $51 billion from Riyadh to end hostilities.

Update, November 5 evening

The Houthis denied targeting Medina, while the Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed the missile in the air.