The drone and missile attacks on Aramco had a "dramatic effect" on the kingdom, says Prince Turki bin Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, who served as director general of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency and ambassador to both the United States and the United Kingdom.

The strikes on Aramco’s Abqaiq and Kurais facilities, which have been attributed to Iran, “raised the level of awareness of the potential Iranian threat,” he said in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor. “And it has also gotten the kingdom moving on improving the defensive capabilities in those areas, and anywhere else that may be liable to, or a target of, Iranian attacks.”

Prince Turki, who is chairman of the King Faisal Foundation's Center for Research and Islamic Studies, has not yet seen any signs of change in Iranian behavior signaling an interest in diplomacy, on Yemen or any other issue, despite the mediation efforts of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“If there is going to be any regional peace, if you like, we have to see goodwill signs from Iran,” said Prince Turki. “Crown Prince Mohammed said in an interview with an American news outlet, if Iran would stop its support for the Houthis, then there may be a chance for a diplomatic settlement to the war in Yemen. But we haven't seen yet any such signs of goodwill.”