Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, arrived in Tehran on Thursday for a rare visit to Iran, marking the first time a senior Saudi royal has visited the country in decades. The visit comes as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran remain high, but also follow recent signs of easing relations.
Prince Khalid met with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s chief of staff, to discuss defense cooperation and regional stability. The talks centered on combating terrorism, strengthening peace, and addressing the nuclear issue in the region.
The visit is significant given Saudi Arabia’s past opposition to Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts, particularly in Yemen. However, recent joint naval exercises between the two countries suggest a thawing of ties. Last year, Prince Khalid announced that Saudi Arabia would not allow Israel to use its airspace to strike Iranian oil facilities.
Prince Khalid is the son of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and comes as Iran engages in talks with the US over a new nuclear agreement. The US has maintained a military presence in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states neighboring Iran, raising concerns about potential conflict.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/17/middleeast/saudi-defense-minister-visits-iran-intl/index.html