Iran-Saudi cooperation essential to halt Israel’s expansionism
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saud bin Mohammed al-Satti visited Iran and held talks with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The visit was described as part of the ongoing diplomatic consultations between the two states and aimed at discussing bilateral ties as well as exchanging views on regional developments, including the situations in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.
The trip comes at a moment of heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanon following the assassination of Haitham Ali Tabatabai, a prominent Hezbollah commander, and several other resistance members, an incident Hezbollah considers a breach of the cease-fire and has vowed to retaliate for. Iran and Saudi Arabia, as major regional players, are seen as capable of playing a meaningful role in defusing these tensions.
The visit also follows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent trip to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump, during which Iran was reportedly discussed. Iran’s direct contacts with Washington have been entirely severed since the 12-day war in June, but various countries are seeking to step in to prevent regional escalation.
Speaking to Iran Daily, Middle East affairs expert Sabah Zanganeh said the Saudi delegation probably briefed Iranian officials partly on the Trump-MBS discussions.
IRAN DAILY: How should the timing of the Saudi deputy foreign minister’s visit and his meeting with Abbas Araghchi be assessed, and what were the main points potentially addressed during the talks?
ZANGENEH: Visits and diplomatic exchanges constitute a fundamental pillar in improving and expanding relations between states. Following several recent trips, during which various Iranian ministers participated in events held in Riyadh and engaged in discussions with their Saudi counterparts, the pattern indicates Iran’s commitment to advancing these ties. Political relations already in place need to be built up so that different dimensions of engagement can progress with goodwill and full mutual understanding, allowing both sides to lay down a solid foundation for future cooperation while safeguarding the interests of each country.
The deputy foreign minister came to follow up on earlier rounds of dialogue. And now, after Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States, it appeared that Saudi Arabia intended to brief Iranian officials on the crown prince’s meeting with President Trump. Since Iran’s name had been raised multiple times in those conversations, both by MBS and in Trump’s replies, it was likely deemed necessary for a senior Saudi official to travel to Tehran and inform Iran of what had been discussed.
Nevertheless, the issue did not necessarily involve the delivery of a formal message, but what mattered was clarifying what exactly had been said and how each side had positioned itself. Whatever the outcome, once the Foreign Ministry judged it expedient, the relevant information would either be released publicly or factored into its strategic assessments.
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