RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and his accompanying delegation arrived in Tehran on an official visit.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi Defence Minister is visiting Iran at the directives of the Saudi leadership.
Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss ties and issues of mutual interest.
According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, the Saudi minister will explore ways of strengthening regional cooperation and bolstering defence relations and counter-terrorism coordination.
The high-profile visit comes ahead of a second round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme in Rome on Saturday.
Earlier this month Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussed regional developments during a call with the President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.
The two leaders also exchanged congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. They also discussed recent developments in the region and reviewed several issues of mutual concern.
It is pertinent to mention that last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Saudi Arabia to attend a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss measures to counter the US plan for the forced displacement of Gazans.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, also spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in a phone conversation in February and discussed regional developments.
In October last year, Araqchi met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh and discussed bilateral ties and developments in the region.
In the same month, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha.
Back in November 2024, the chief of staff of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, visited Tehran on an invitation from Major General Baqeri and met with Iranian military officials.
