Extraordinary visit of Saudi Arabia's army chief to Iran

 Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Islamabad (News International. DW new. November 12, 2024) This visit is being described as unusual in the sense that once bitter rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have discussed cooperation in the military and defense sectors.

Saudi Arabia's Chief of General Staff Fayyad bin Hamid al-Rawali's visit to Tehran comes at a time when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, called on Israel to respect Iran's sovereignty and on Iranian soil. Refrain from attacking.

It is a rare high-level meeting since the China-brokered restoration of ties between the two countries last year.

Saudi Crown Prince's meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister, what was discussed?

According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, in the meeting, the two countries discussed increasing cooperation in the military and defense sectors, strengthening security cooperation and regional stability.

General Al-Rawali praised the Beijing agreement. He said that the Beijing agreement is a good basis for increasing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia considers this agreement as a strategic opportunity.

According to the Iranian news agency Fars, General Baqeri mentioned the increase in security cooperation between the two countries in the meeting. He said that he would be happy if the Saudi Navy participates in naval exercises next year or participates as an observer.

Tehran-Riyadh relations moving in the right direction, Iranian Foreign Minister

General Al-Rawali said that there are opportunities to improve the level of cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries in various fields.

A warming of relations between former rivals

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were severed in 2016, but after an agreement in March 2023 in China, the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations and open embassies in each other's countries.

After which the embassy of Iran was reopened in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

There have been several direct contacts and visits between the two countries to restore diplomatic relations. In June this year, Iran opened its embassy in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Analysts say that the Saudi general's visit to Tehran is a sign of changing regional conditions and improvement in Saudi-Iran relations.

Iran's invitation to participate in naval exercises heralds regional stability and new possibilities.

Analysts are calling the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's statement regarding Iran at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh as a warming of relations between the long-standing rival countries of the Middle East. Sunni Muslim-majority Saudi Arabia and Shia-majority Iran have often been in opposing camps on regional disputes, including Syria.