Saudi Arabia’s top military official meets with Iranian defense leaders to discuss expanding defense cooperation.
Saudi Arabia’s top military official has conducted a rare visit to Tehran, marking a significant step in the relationship between the two nations since reestablishing diplomatic ties last year. General Fayyad al-Ruwaili, Chief of Staff of the Saudi armed forces, met with his Iranian counterpart, General Mohammad Bagheri, at the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters in Tehran, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.
What are the main goals of this high-level meeting?
According to IRNA, the talks centered on “defense diplomacy” and enhancing bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The meeting signifies a notable thaw in relations and an effort to strengthen military and diplomatic channels.
Will the Saudi navy participate in Iranian naval exercises?
During the discussions, General Bagheri reportedly invited the Saudi navy to participate in Iranian naval exercises scheduled for next year, either as active participants or observers, reflecting a new willingness to build military ties.
Did Iranian and Saudi leaders hold further talks?
In a related development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone, according to Iranian media. President Pezeshkian informed the crown prince that due to scheduling conflicts, he would be unable to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh and would instead send Iran’s first vice president as his representative.
