عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Iran FM to Visit Saudi Arabia to Avert Major Regional Military Escalation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference after his meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference after his meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP)
TT
TT

Iran FM to Visit Saudi Arabia to Avert Major Regional Military Escalation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference after his meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference after his meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will arrive in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday morning as part of a regional tour aimed at averting a major regional military escalation.

He is scheduled to meet with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Iran’s ISNA news agency said Araqchi’s tour will focus on regional issues and efforts to end the “Israeli crimes” in Gaza and Lebanon.

Political Science Professor Dr. Saleh al-Khathlan said the Riyadh visit aims to avert a regional escalation.

Saudi Arabia will employ its efforts with regional and world partners to prevent the region from being dragged to a dangerous military confrontation, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Iran is in a very difficult position and it needs countries with political regional weight, such as Saudi Arabia, to help it out of the crisis it has found itself in,” he explained.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted Araqchi as saying that after consultations in New York and Doha, and trips to Beirut and Damascus, “I will continue these visits and head to Saudi Arabia and regional countries to seek measures to stop these crimes.”

The consultations are ongoing to stop the crimes and condemn Israel, he added.

“Iran has repeatedly said it does not want war, even though we do not fear it,” he declared.

“We are prepared for any scenario and all necessary targets have been decided. Our policy aims to end the conflicts and reach an acceptable truce,” the FM said.

Al-Khathlan noted that Araqchi is carrying out his tour in wake of the latest escalation in the region and the possibility that Israel could launch destructive attacks against Iran after its ballistic missile strikes last week.

Iran is facing major dangers and so the FM will focus with Saudi officials on averting escalation, he added.

Tehran fully realizes that Riyadh, given its strong ties with regional and international players, can assume a pivotal role in restoring calm and preventing the spillover of the conflict into the region, he stressed.

Ultimately, however, the success of regional efforts lies in the hands of the Israeli government and its American backer, he noted.

At the moment, the United States is preoccupied with its presidential elections and any uncalculated action may hamper the chances of Joe Biden’s successor, Kamala Harris, in becoming president, Al-Khathlan said.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
TT
TT

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA

The 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee kicked off Sunday in Riyadh, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and bringing together representatives from government entities of both countries to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation and developing strategic partnerships across various economic and development sectors.

The committee session was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Samir Abdelhafidh, attended by official delegations and government sector representatives from both countries, SPA reported.

In his opening remarks, Alkhorayef emphasized the strength of Saudi-Tunisian relations and the brotherly and economic ties between the two countries, which span more than 70 years. He noted that these ties are reflected today in shared visions and ambitious work programs that align with the aspirations of both countries’ leaderships and peoples, as well as their mutual interests.

He pointed out that the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee, launched in 1998, represents an institutional framework aimed at translating cooperation into executable programs and initiatives. He expressed his hope that this session would serve as a new starting point for joint strategic projects and more impactful agreements that contribute to the economic development of both countries.

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors. The minister called on companies in both countries to build practical partnerships in promising industries and value chains. He also highlighted the outcomes of the third meeting, held in Tunisia in July 2025, namely the agreements on mutual recognition of product conformity certificates, which positively contributed to a 38% growth in trade exchange through September 2025 compared with the same period last year.

The committee’s current session focused on boosting cooperation mechanisms, discussing investment opportunities, and exchanging expertise in key sectors, including industry, mining, tourism, transport and logistics, and the judiciary and justice sectors. These efforts aim to enhance trade efficiency, support the access of Saudi products to international markets, and strengthen economic and investment cooperation.

Gulf

77th Saudi Relief Plane for Palestinian People in Gaza Arrives in Egypt

This assistance is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian support to alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza - SPA
This assistance is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian support to alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza - SPA
TT
TT

77th Saudi Relief Plane for Palestinian People in Gaza Arrives in Egypt

This assistance is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian support to alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza - SPA
This assistance is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian support to alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza - SPA

The 77th Saudi relief airplane, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in coordination with the Ministry of Defense and the Kingdom’s Embassy in Cairo, arrived Sunday at El Arish International Airport in Egypt.

The airplane carried food baskets and shelter kits destined for those affected in the Gaza Strip, SPA reported.

This assistance is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian support, provided through the center, to alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”