Iranian foreign minister writes to Saudi counterpart as new regional alliance sought

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi passed a message to his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, Riyadh says, amid what appears to be a push by Tehran to rally the region behind it following attacks on the country by Israel and the United States.

According to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the message deals with “relations and ways to support and enhance them across all fields.” It was passed to Riyadh by Iran’s envoy during a lower-level meeting in Saudi Arabia, a statement says.

#Riyadh | Foreign Minister HH Prince receives a written message from Iranian Foreign Minister @araghchi. pic.twitter.com/KIsrbvVecm

— Foreign Ministry ???????? (@KSAmofaEN) July 1, 2025

The message coincides with an op-ed published by Araghchi in Lebanese paper An-Nahar claiming that Iran’s performance in the war last month “opens a new window for comprehensive diplomacy” in the Middle East, calling for unity among Islamic countries with a goal aimed at deterring Israel.

“The fundamental pillar of deterrence is now embodied in cooperation among the countries of the region. Consensus in confronting shared threats, understanding on regional stability, economic security, and combating all forms of terrorism constitute the four cornerstones around which diplomatic negotiations should be conducted,” he writes, urging special attention for Gaza and Lebanon.

The piece may mark a shift in Iran’s approach to the region, which placed Tehran in opposition to moderate Gulf states as it attempted to express regional strength via a network of proxy organizations that terrorized Israel and Gulf monarchies. Those groups have been decimated or rendered ineffective over the past 20 months since the October 7, 2023, leaving Iran largely on its own during Israel’s 12-day air offensive aimed at destroying its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.