Saudi Foreign Minister, Iranian Counterpart Hold Talks

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart in Makkah. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart in Makkah. SPA
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Saudi Foreign Minister, Iranian Counterpart Hold Talks

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart in Makkah. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart in Makkah. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the ministry's Makkah Region branch.
The two officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors, as well as the latest regional developments.

Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat that Araghchi briefed Prince Faisal on the talks with the United States hosted by Oman.

He added that Araghchi’s visit comes within the framework of ongoing consultations between the two countries in various fields, including regional issues, matters of mutual interest, and the nuclear talks.



Saudi Leadership Offers Condolences to Libyan Presidential Council on Death of Chief of Staff

Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Leadership Offers Condolences to Libyan Presidential Council on Death of Chief of Staff

Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Friday a cable of condolences to President of Libya's Presidential Council Dr. Mohamed Al-Menfi on the death of the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army and his companions following a plane crash in Türkiye earlier this week.

King Salman extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to the president and the families of the deceased.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent A-Menfi a similar cable.

Experts have started analyzing the black boxes recovered from the jet crash in Türkiye that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, the Turkish defense ministry said Thursday. The probe was being done in coordination with Libyan officials.

The private jet with Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, four other military officers and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Ankara, killing everyone on board.

Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.


UAE Welcomes Saudi Efforts to Support Security in Yemen

The UAE said it welcomes Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen. (Reuters)
The UAE said it welcomes Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen. (Reuters)
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UAE Welcomes Saudi Efforts to Support Security in Yemen

The UAE said it welcomes Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen. (Reuters)
The UAE said it welcomes Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen. (Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates welcomes Saudi Arabian efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and ​remains committed to backing stability in the country, the UAE’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

"The UAE reaffirmed ‌its ⁠steadfast ​commitment to ‌supporting all endeavors aimed at strengthening stability and development in Yemen," it added.


Yemeni Government Welcomes Saudi Statement on Hadhramaut, Al-Mahra

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters)
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Yemeni Government Welcomes Saudi Statement on Hadhramaut, Al-Mahra

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters)

The Yemeni government welcomed on Thursday the statement by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praising its "clear and responsible stance on recent developments in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra governorates."

The government acknowledged the Kingdom’s "persistent efforts to contain the escalation, protect the interests of the Yemeni people, and maintain security and stability in the eastern governorates."

In a statement carried by the official news agency SABA, the government commended "the leading role of Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the United Arab Emirates, in supporting the de-escalation process, restoring normalcy, upholding the state’s institutional frameworks, and reinforcing the role of local authorities, all under the supervision of the coalition forces."

The government reiterated "its full support for the Kingdom’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the public interest, exercising restraint, and urgently ending the escalation to restore peace, social security, and national unity."

The stability of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra and the integrity of their social fabric remain a top national priority, it added.

"Any security or military measures taken outside the state’s constitutional and institutional frameworks, or without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council, the government, and local authorities, are unacceptable and create unnecessary tension during this sensitive period," it warned.

The government underlined Yemen’s "firm stance on the Southern cause, describing it as a just cause with historical and social dimensions."

It noted that "significant progress has been achieved through national consensus, ensuring justice, partnership, and the preservation of social peace, far from any logic of dominance or escalation."