TEHRAN – Iranian President Masudo Pezeshkian underscored the possibility that Iran and Saudi Arabia could serve as models of regional cooperation during a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday evening in Tehran.
The meeting, which took place shortly after the arrival of the Saudi minister, discussed regional development and aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
In his speech, Pezeschkian emphasized the shared religious, cultural and historical ties between Islamic countries, and the need for greater unity among them. “We consider you to be our brother and since the beginning of this administration, we have worked to strengthen relations between Islamic countries,” he said. He went on to explain that a unified Islamic world can tackle an end to the human tragedy that arises in Gaza by facing external forces like the Zionist regime.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is fully committed to expanding relations with Saudi Arabia across all sectors and expanding this cooperation to other Islamic countries. He particularly welcomed the idea of establishing a joint working group on political, economic and security issues. “Iran and Saudi Arabia can rely on shared capabilities to resolve many regional problems without external interference,” Peshshkian hopes that recent goodwill between the two countries will strengthen the unity of the Islamic world and prevent foreign powers from robbing discord.
The president has also expressed Iran’s preparations to welcome Saudi Arabia’s Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Tehran. Prince Khalid bin Salman on his side expressed satisfaction with the visit and gave a greeting from his father and brother to Pezeshkian. He also emphasized that the common positions of the two countries on major regional issues, including Gaza and Palestine, showed the strength of their cooperation.
“Iran and Saudi Arabia are two main pillars of the region, and the strong relationship between the two could serve as an effective model of convergence in the Islamic world,” the Saudi Arabian Defense Minister said, referring to the Beijing Agreement via China, signed in March 2023, restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Prince Khalid also emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral talks and on behalf of the Saudi leader, invited President Pezeshkian to visit Saudi Arabia to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Iran-Saudi cooperation on regional security discussed by the National Security Director
At another meeting on Thursday, Iran’s top national security council director-general Ali Akbar Ahmadian met with Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security.
The Ahmadian emphasized that Iran and Saudi Arabia can play an important role in ensuring security and progress in sensitive regions. “Iran and Saudi Arabia are two important and influential countries and through strategic cooperation we can ensure security and progress in this critical region,” he said.
The Ahmadian also emphasized the importance of increasing economic ties between the two countries to strengthen other aspects of the partnership. He called the visit of the Saudi Minister of Defense a key step to strengthen cooperation and expressed his preparation to expand relations in areas such as co-investment.
The two officials also addressed the ongoing Israeli invasion in Gaza and the broader impact on regional stability. The Ahmadian condemned Israel’s actions in Iran, emphasizing that unity of Islamic countries is essential to combating the regime’s insecurity in the region.
Iran, Saudi military chief discusses strengthened cooperation
Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman also met with Major General Mohammad Bagyeri, a general staff member of the Iranian army during his visit.
The two discussed promoting military cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of defense and regional security. Major General Bagheri expressed Iran’s preparations to strengthen defence ties with Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of regional solutions to regional problems.
He also reiterated Iran’s longstanding policy that regional security should be governed by regional countries, and cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia could contribute to a more stable and peaceful Middle East. Bagheri emphasized that recent improvements in military relations, including joint participation in maritime security exercises, will help prevent external interference in the region.
Prince Khalid bin Salman praised Iran’s hospitality and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. “Our relationships between the two countries are extremely important for the security of both countries and the wider regions,” he said. He also invited Major General Bagheri to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future to continue discussions on strengthening defence cooperation.