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.
