Riyadh: In a significant diplomatic development, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman on Tuesday. The meetings marked one of the highest-level engagements between the two countries in recent years.
Talks were held against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions following an Israeli airstrike in Doha on September 9 that targeted Hamas leaders. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.
According to Iranian media, Larijani and the Crown Prince discussed strategic regional issues and the state of affairs in Islamic countries. Both sides shared views on the future of the region and emphasized the need for stability. They also explored avenues to expand economic cooperation, addressing challenges faced by traders and considering opportunities for joint investments.
Later, Larijani met Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman. Their talks focused on strengthening defense cooperation as part of broader efforts to rebuild ties between Riyadh and Tehran. “In my meeting, we discussed Saudi-Iranian relations and addressed issues of mutual interest, as well as regional developments and efforts to achieve security and stability,” the minister said.
Khalid bin Salman had earlier visited Tehran in April, where he met Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. That visit was the first by a Saudi official to Khamenei since 2006, signaling a cautious but notable thaw in relations between the two regional rivals.
