Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has visited Tehran before a second round of talks between Washington and Tehran on Iran’s nuclear programme. The meeting comes amid growing tensions between the two countries, with President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening to bomb Iran if it does not reach an agreement.
Prince Khalid met several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to discuss bilateral relations and common interests. He conveyed a message from King Salman, expressing Saudi Arabia’s support for efforts to resolve regional disputes.
The visit follows a 2023 deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to re-establish relations after years of hostility. Iranian officials have welcomed the Saudi defence minister’s trip as an opportunity to reassure Iran that they would not like attacks against it and want better relations.
The US and Iran are set to gather in Rome on Saturday for a second round of talks, with UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi warning that time is running out to reach a deal. The talks come after Trump revived his “maximum pressure” policy, imposing economic sanctions on Iran and threatening military action if Tehran does not agree.
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons capability, but the country’s enrichment activities have raised concerns in the West. Surveillance cameras installed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been disrupted, while Iran has barred some inspectors. Despite this, the IAEA’s access has not been entirely revoked.
The Saudi defence minister’s visit underscores the diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute between Iran and the US. As negotiations progress, it remains to be seen whether a deal can be reached to alleviate tensions in the region.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/17/saudi-defence-minister-visits-tehran-before-iran-us-talks