ALBAWABA-In a rare high-level visit, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, delivering a message from King Salman bin Abdulaziz focused on bilateral relations and the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Oman.
During the meeting, Khamenei emphasized the mutual benefits of expanding relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
"Our relationship can be complementary, and cooperation among regional brothers is far better than reliance on outsiders," he stated.
Khamenei also acknowledged that some actors are hostile to improved Saudi-Iran ties, but expressed Iran’s readiness to overcome these challenges.
Prince Khalid also held talks with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces. According to Iranian state media, discussions focused on developing defense cooperation, enhancing regional peace and stability, and joint efforts to combat terrorism.
This visit marks the most senior-level Saudi visit to Iran in over two decades, the last being King Abdullah's trip in 1997 during the presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami.
The Saudi-Iranian meeting comes as Iran continues indirect negotiations with the United States over a possible new nuclear deal.
Washington and Tel Aviv have warned of potential military action should talks collapse, while Iran has cautioned that any strike on its territory could trigger a wider regional conflict.
As the U.S. maintains a military footprint in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf, this renewed Saudi-Iranian dialogue signals a significant shift in regional diplomacy amid fragile nuclear talks and persistent security threats.
