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Gulf

Khalid bin Salman in Iran, Hands Khamenei Message from King Salman

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
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Khalid bin Salman in Iran, Hands Khamenei Message from King Salman

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks in Tehran on Thursday with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Khalid said he was visiting Iran at the directives of the Saudi leadership, revealing that he had handed Khamenei a written message from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He added that he discussed with Khamenei issues of common interest and bilateral relations between their countries.

“Ties with Saudi Arabia are beneficial for both countries and we can complement each other,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency,

The meeting was attended by chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri.

Prince Khalid was received by Bagheri upon his arrival in Tehran.

“Relations with Saudi Arabia have been witnessing growth and development since the signing of the Beijing Agreement,” Bagheri was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Tehran and Riyadh can play an important role in ensuring regional security, he added.

Moreover, he said his country was ready to develop defense ties with the Kingdom.

Tehran also “appreciates Saudi Arabia’s position towards Gaza and Palestine,” he said, according to Tasnim.

Prince Khalid’s visit comes amid major regional and international developments.

Saudi and Iranian officials are set to sit down for talks on a number of issues, while Prince Khalid will hold several meetings focused on bilateral relations between Riyadh and Tehran.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks last week with Pezeshkian that covered regional developments and issues of common interests.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqhchi held telephone talks on Monday.

This is second visit by a Saudi defense minister to Tehran since 1979 when late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for four days in 1999.

Prince Khalid is the highest-ranking official from the Kingdom to visit Iran since the two countries reached a Chinese-mediated détente in March 2023. FM Prince Faisal visited later that year.

Saudi political analyst Abdel Latif al-Melhem said Prince Khalid’s visit reflects the Saudi leadership’s keenness on bolstering and developing ties with Iran in line with the Beijing Agreement.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi leadership is seeking to achieve peace and prosperity in the region and close the chapter of regional conflicts and embark on a phase of stability and security.

He noted that the development of relations between Riyadh and Tehran can be attributed to the efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed to achieve peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.

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Gulf

GCC Sec-Gen, Egyptian FM Reaffirm Strength of GCC-Egyptian Relations

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Sec-Gen, Egyptian FM Reaffirm Strength of GCC-Egyptian Relations

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty in the city of El Alamein, Egypt.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics of mutual concern and explored ways to strengthen relations between the GCC states and Egypt across various fields, serving desired goals and shared interests.

Both sides reviewed the latest developments regarding the Joint Action Plan between the GCC and Egypt for the period (2024–2028), as well as the outcomes of the inaugural edition of the GCC-Egyptian Investment Forum held recently, SPA reported.

Moreover, the officials also explored several proposals to further bolster GCC-Egyptian ties for the benefit of both peoples.

The two officials underscored the importance of backing all regional and international efforts aimed at cementing security and stability, stressing that all outstanding disputes must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means, as well as constructive dialogue among all parties involved.

Albudaiwi reiterated his thanks and appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt for its support to the GCC states against Iranian attacks.

The Egyptian minister reaffirmed Egypt's solidarity with the GCC states and its rejection of any aggression against their territories, emphasizing that the security of the GCC states is an integral part of Egyptian national security.

Gulf

Bahrain Issues Prison Sentences for 8 Convicted of Terrorism Charges

The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them. (Bahrain's Public Prosecution)
The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them. (Bahrain's Public Prosecution)
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Bahrain Issues Prison Sentences for 8 Convicted of Terrorism Charges

The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them. (Bahrain's Public Prosecution)
The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them. (Bahrain's Public Prosecution)

Bahrain’s High Criminal Court issued on Tuesday rulings in two separate cases, convicting three defendants of joining a terrorist group and working for it to carry out hostile and terrorist acts against the kingdom and harm its interests.

The court sentenced all three defendants to 15 years in prison, fined two of them BD2,000 each, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items, a statement by the Deputy Chief Prosecutor for Terrorism Crimes said according to Bahrain’s state news agency BNA.

An investigations established that the defendants had joined a terrorist group seeking to carry out plans targeting Bahrain with the aim of disrupting public order and undermining national security and safety by committing acts intended to harm individuals, spread fear among them, and prevent state institutions and public authorities from carrying out their duties.

The investigations revealed that the defendants had been assigned to carry out various terrorist tasks within Bahrain, as well as to transfer, receive and deliver funds designated to support and finance terrorist elements affiliated with the group.

The defendants admitted to the charges brought against them.

The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them.

In another case, the High Criminal Court issued rulings in three separate cases involving individuals who supported and endorsed Iranian terrorist attacks against Bahrain.

The court sentenced three defendants to prison terms of up to 10 years, fined some of them up to BD5,000, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.

The cases arose from reports received by the Public Prosecution from the relevant security authorities concerning the monitoring of social media accounts containing content supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks targeting Bahrain, in addition to the publication of information and images of vital sites where photography and filming are prohibited.

Investigations led to the identification of those operating the accounts. The Public Prosecution subsequently conducted its investigations, confirming that the defendants had committed the offences with which they were charged.

The Public Prosecution stressed that cyberspace, and the content published or circulated through it, is subject to the law and regulations established to protect community security and interests.

It urged users of platforms to exercise responsibility when publishing or circulating content and to refrain from contributing to the dissemination or circulation of prohibited materials and information that could harm the kingdom's security or community safety.

In a third case, the High Criminal Court convicted two defendants of spying for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization, and persons acting on its behalf, in order to assist in its hostile and terrorist activities against Bahrain and harm its interests.

The court sentenced both defendants to life imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.

The Public Prosecution had received a report from the Anti-Cybercrime Directorate concerning the monitoring of a social media account containing statements supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the kingdom.

Investigations led to the identification and arrest of the person operating the account, who admitted to managing it and communicating with a defendant who had fled the country, providing him with coordinates and locations within Bahrain.

The Public Prosecution immediately opened an investigation into the report, questioning the defendant present in Bahrain, who admitted to the charges brought against him.

It said that safeguarding the kingdom's security and national interests requires confronting all forms of unlawful cooperation or communication with hostile entities. It stressed that it will continue to exercise its legal mandate in pursuing those who commit such crimes, ensuring the application of the law and accountability for anyone proven to have committed acts that could undermine Bahrain’s security or harm its interests.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Discuss De-Escalation Efforts, Security of Waterways

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Discuss De-Escalation Efforts, Security of Waterways

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks on Tuesday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on regional developments.

They discussed cooperation between their countries, as well as diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the escalation in the region that ensures the security and freedom of navigation in waterways in the Gulf and Red Sea.