Iranian foreign minister meets Saudi ruler, pushing restored ties forward

Iran’s top diplomat extends trip to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Tehran and Riyadh reconnect after cutting ties in 2016

This handout picture provided by the Saudi foreign ministry shows Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, in Jeddah on August 18, 2023. (Saudi Foreign Ministry/AFP)
This handout picture provided by the Saudi foreign ministry shows Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, in Jeddah on August 18, 2023. (Saudi Foreign Ministry/AFP)

Iran’s foreign minister met Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler on Friday during his first visit since the Middle East rivals announced a surprise rapprochement, officials said.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who traveled to Riyadh on Thursday, held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the Saudi foreign ministry announced, after extending a scheduled one-day visit.

The two reviewed relations between the countries, “future opportunities for cooperation… and ways to develop them, in addition to discussing developments in the situation on the regional and international arenas,” the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency said the visit was the first time a senior Iranian official had met with Prince Mohammed, 37, who has ushered in a series of reforms in the conservative kingdom.

IRNA later reported that Iran extended an invitation for the Saudi crown prince to visit Iran and that Prince Mohammed accepted.

In a statement posted on X, Amir-Abdollahian called the 90-minute meeting a “direct, frank, and productive conversation” that addressed bilateral relations, security and development.

“The way to the success of the region is to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and increase development-oriented cooperation,” he said, according to a statement from Tehran’s foreign ministry.

Shiite Muslim-majority Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi broke off ties in 2016, but they agreed to restore diplomatic relations in a Chinese-brokered deal in March.

The announcement sparked optimism as the two regional heavyweights have backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years, including in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s impoverished neighbor.

On Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian said ties “are progressing in the right direction” as he appeared in front of the media with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan hold a joint press conference in Riyadh on August 17, 2023. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)

His visit would “be a prelude to the meeting of the heads of the two countries,” he said, without specifying when Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi would travel to Saudi Arabia at King Salman’s invitation.

Amir-Abdollahian also took the opportunity to reiterate the Islamic Republic’s support for the Palestinian cause at a time when Riyadh is in discussions with the United States about potentially normalizing ties with Israel.

Such a deal would see Saudi Arabia recognize Israel in exchange for conditions including security guarantees from the United States and concessions from Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Standing next to Prince Faisal, Amir-Abdollahian described the conflict as “the most important issue in the Islamic world,” adding: “We continue to support Palestine.”

“There is no doubt that the Zionist regime will continue its efforts to create division in the Muslim world and the region. We follow the movements of the Zionist regime with insight and vigilance,” he added.

Amir-Abdollahian hailed economic and security cooperation between the two countries, but announced no new agreements. He was accompanied by Iran’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati.

“We are sure that these meetings and cooperation will help the unity of the Islamic world,” Amir-Abdollahian added, proposing a “regional dialogue” without giving details.

Since the March deal, Saudi Arabia has ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, holding direct talks with Houthi leaders in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, and championed the return of key Iran ally Syria to the Arab League.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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