Saudi, Gulf Leaders Welcome Election of Iran’s Pezeshkian

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
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Saudi, Gulf Leaders Welcome Election of Iran’s Pezeshkian

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated the new president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, on his election victory.
“On the occasion of your victory in the presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are pleased to send you our sincere congratulations and best wishes for success, looking forward to continuing to develop relations between our two brotherly countries and peoples, and continuing coordination and consultation in order to enhance regional and international peace and security.”

“We wish you good health and happiness, and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, further progress and prosperity,” the King was quoted as saying in an SPA report.
The Saudi Crown Prince expressed his “sincere congratulations and best wishes for success and further progress for your country and brotherly people,” highlighting his “keenness to develop and deepen relations that unite our two countries and peoples, and serve our common interests,” SPA reported.
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also felicitated Pezeshkian upon his election win.
King Hamad said that Bahrain seeks to establish outstanding relations with Iran based on cooperation and strengthen strong relations with it in a way that benefits both countries and the two nations.
In a warm gesture of diplomacy, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable to Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday also congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory in Iran’s presidential elections.
“I wish him success in his role and look forward to working together to further strengthen ties between the UAE and Iran for the benefit of our two nations and peoples,” Sheikh Mohamed said on X.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also looks forward to the UAE and Iran "working together to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region", his message on X read.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent a similar message.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim wished Pezeshkian success “in serving his country towards further prosperity and development in a way that benefits the region and the world.”
The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq is also among the leaders who congratulated Pezeshkian on the victory.
Pezeshkian, Iran’s only reformist candidate in the latest presidential election, has risen from relative obscurity to become the ninth president of the country.
He won around 53.6% of the vote in a runoff election against the ultraconservative Saeed Jalili.
 



Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, along with rising regional tensions, took center stage at the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit in Doha, which began on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia urged countries to back the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key step toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the ACD summit and highlighted how continued violence in the region is disrupting international trade and fueling political tensions, which threaten investments and economic cooperation.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He called for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts to ensure the region’s prosperity.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said, reminding that the situation has prompted the Kingdom to work with “brothers and allies in establishing a Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution.”
He stressed that the current unrest in Palestine and Lebanon is a major barrier to economic and commercial development in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for resistance groups.
“The Zionist enemy will be punished, and we will keep supporting the resistance until Palestine is liberated,” said Pezeshkian.
Also speaking at the ACD summit, he emphasized: “Those who violate human rights must know that resistance is strong and cannot be eliminated.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s backing for Palestinian resistance.
After meeting with a Hamas delegation in Doha, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s ongoing actions had led Iran’s military to deliver a decisive response.
“Israel couldn’t commit these crimes without backing from the US and Europe. If Israel makes any mistake against Iran, it will face a much stronger retaliation than Tuesday’s attack,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the summit, Sheikh Tamim said: “Qatar has long warned about the dangers of not addressing Israel’s crimes.”
He pointed to the escalating violence in Gaza, noting that true security can only be achieved through a just peace, which includes creating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
He stressed that Qatar will continue to support the Palestinian people in their fight for their legitimate rights.
“Israel’s relentless attacks on civilians in Gaza and other occupied areas have killed over 41,000 innocent people. What’s happening is genocide, and Gaza is being made uninhabitable to force its residents out,” said Sheikh Tamim.
He also condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, accusing Israel of using international inaction to expand settlements in the West Bank and prepare for annexation.
“We believe in de-escalating tensions and respecting nations’ sovereignty,” he added, stressing that Israel is taking advantage of global silence to push its agenda in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called for urgent international intervention to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
He warned that Israel’s attacks have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
“Peace cannot coexist with occupation, genocide, and the denial of the Palestinian people’s rights,” Abbas reaffirmed at the ACD summit.