Riyadh Consultations Intensify to Ensure Success of Southern Yemen Dialogue

Member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami during the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (Al-Muharrami's office)
Member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami during the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (Al-Muharrami's office)
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Riyadh Consultations Intensify to Ensure Success of Southern Yemen Dialogue

Member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami during the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (Al-Muharrami's office)
Member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami during the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (Al-Muharrami's office)

Member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami held in Riyadh on Sunday an expanded meeting with a delegation from southern Yemen as part of efforts to ensure the success of the upcoming intra-southern dialogue.

The meeting was the latest in consultations dedicated to preparing the dialogue.

The dialogue will be sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Circles in Yemen, the region and international community are banking on its success, hoping that it will help shape the future of southern Yemen based on a vision approved by the southerners themselves without excluding any party.

Al-Muharrami stressed the importance of preparing the right political and societal climate inside Yemen to hold the dialogue in order to build trust and create rapprochement between different southern components.

He hoped the serious dialogue would lead to national agreements that serve the southern cause and meet the aspirations of the people.

During the meeting, he listened to proposals related to the dialogue and requirements for its success.

Al-Muharrami said the dialogue must “bolster southern ranks, preserve national gains, and strengthen unified positions.”

The people of the south have the right to determine their fate and choose their political future, he added.

Saudi Arabia continues to support the people of the south based on its keenness on bolstering stability and agreement, he went on to say.

The gatherers on Sunday stressed the importance of maintaining consultations and coordination to pave the way for the dialogue.

They expressed their appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s efforts in supporting Yemen on the political, economic and services level and its role in bolstering security and stability in the south, Yemen as a whole and the region.



Saudi Ambassador Inaugurates 3rd Phase of Lebanese Land Exports to the Kingdom

Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
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Saudi Ambassador Inaugurates 3rd Phase of Lebanese Land Exports to the Kingdom

Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Dosari inaugurated on Thursday the third phase of Lebanese exports to the Kingdom.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the resumption of Lebanese exports to the Kingdom.

The exports will pass through the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.

Thursday’s inauguration ceremony was attended by Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, representing the prime minister, along with several government officials.

Rasamny praised the Kingdom’s decision to resume imports of Lebanese products, describing it as a direct support for the national economy and a step that opens new opportunities for Lebanese producers.

The ceremony also included the activation of the scanner at Masnaa. This was followed by an inspection visit to the site designated for the establishment of a new land border crossing center.


Oman Says Lasting Security in Strait of Hormuz Requires Regional Peace

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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Oman Says Lasting Security in Strait of Hormuz Requires Regional Peace

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Oman said lasting security in the Strait of Hormuz required permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation or conflict, its foreign minister told his Japanese counterpart on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Iran has said a deal with Oman on new shipping lanes through the strait was in its final stages.


Faisal bin Farhan Stresses Diplomacy to Ease Regional Tensions

Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Faisal bin Farhan Stresses Diplomacy to Ease Regional Tensions

Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Wednesday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to reducing regional tensions and preventing renewed conflict through comprehensive, sustainable diplomatic solutions addressing the sources of instability in the Middle East.

“Diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful means remain our priorities,” Prince Faisal declared during the third Saudi-Japanese Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh.

Prince Faisal highlighted the decades-long relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan, built on mutual trust and respect, and identified maritime security as a key shared priority.

He stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in international waterways in accordance with international law, emphasizing that the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and other maritime passages must remain open, secure and free from threats.

The Saudi minister described Japan as an important economic partner and noted that Riyadh sought to expand cooperation in investment, energy, resources, supply chains, defense and technology, as well as the exchange of expertise and capabilities.

He reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia would remain a reliable partner for Japan, including in energy, while praising Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen economic resilience and stabilize global energy markets and trade.

Ahead of his visit to Riyadh and Muscat, Motegi noted that Saudi Arabia was playing a mediating role in talks between the United States and Iran and had seen its international influence expand significantly in recent years.

He pledged to deepen cooperation with the Kingdom as a strategic partner, particularly in ensuring stable energy supplies.

Toshihiro Kitamura, Japan’s assistant foreign minister and ministry spokesman, told Asharq Al-Awsat that cooperation between Riyadh and Tokyo was “strategic and encompasses all fields,” adding that future defense cooperation was possible.

Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh, Kitamura explained that Japan wanted to hear Saudi Arabia’s assessment of regional developments and strengthen coordination with Riyadh and Oman in support of peace and stability, particularly regarding Iran.

He noted that more than 95% of Japan’s crude oil imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its importance to global trade and the world economy.

Kitamura also expressed serious concern over Houthi attacks in Bab al-Mandab and indicated that Japan aimed to broaden bilateral cooperation beyond oil under the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 framework, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.