Saudi Govt Praises Riyadh’s Suggestion to Host Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Praises Riyadh’s Suggestion to Host Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government hailed on Tuesday the support and endorsement of the Kingdom's proposal to hold a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit in Riyadh.

It hoped that the summit will result in decisions that help stop Israeli assault and protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

The Crown Prince briefed the ministers on the message sent by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia.

He briefed them on the details of his meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan earlier on Tuesday, which focused on expressing unwavering support for Palestine and Lebanon and continuing to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the people there.

Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the cabinet on his recent official visit to Egypt, including his discussions with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders discussed the strong bilateral relations and the shared commitment to boost cooperation between their countries.

The cabinet hoped the newly formed Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council, led by the Crown Prince and Sisi, and the investment protection agreement reached by the two sides, will significantly strengthen relations and expand cooperation, to mutual benefit.

Furthermore, the cabinet reviewed the Crown Prince's participation in the European-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Brussels last week, highlighting the productive meetings and expanded cooperation opportunities.

It welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of the 2026 EU-GCC Summit, hoping it will further strengthen relations between the two sides, building on King Salman's vision of bolstering Gulf cooperation through strategic international partnerships.

The cabinet welcomed eleven countries’ joining of the Middle East Green Initiative, hoping more will follow to achieve the ambitious climate change goals of the initiative.

It emphasized that the Kingdom’s hosting of the 27th World Energy Congress in 2026 highlights the significant role it plays in the energy sector and reflects its leadership in advancing energy transitions and adopting pioneering initiatives to achieve a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.

The cabinet commended the decisions taken during the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, including boosting joint efforts, granting Riyadh the title of Arab Environment Capital for two years, and bestowing the Environmental Excellence Award on the public sector for the Saudi Green Initiative.

The cabinet stressed its support for the joint statement issued by the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group and reiterated the Kingdom's steadfast commitment to preserving the security, safety, and stability of Sudan.



Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.