Saudi Defence Minister Visits Tehran Before Iran-US Negotiations

• Khamenei expresses willingness to enhance relations with Riyadh.
• Iran and the U.S. are scheduled for a second round of discussions this weekend.
• Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to renew their diplomatic ties in a 2023 agreement.

On Thursday, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials, just ahead of anticipated talks between Iran and the United States regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

During his visit, the defense minister conveyed a message from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, although Iranian state media did not disclose the specifics of that message.

This weekend, Iran and the U.S. are expected to engage in their second round of negotiations in Rome concerning the contentious issue of Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities.

“We believe that fostering a relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia is advantageous for both nations,” Khamenei reportedly stated during their meeting, indicating Iran’s willingness to navigate challenges in improving relations with Riyadh.

As part of a 2023 agreement facilitated by China, Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to restore ties after years of animosity that posed risks to stability in the Gulf and contributed to conflicts throughout the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.

The Saudi government endorsed Iran’s negotiations with the U.S., expressing support for efforts aimed at resolving regional and global disputes in a statement released by the official news agency on Saturday.

According to Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, Mohammad Bagheri, ties between the military forces of Saudi Arabia and Iran have been progressing positively since the Beijing agreement.