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King Salman Issues a Number of Royal Decrees

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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King Salman Issues a Number of Royal Decrees

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a Royal Decree on Monday that approved the document on improving the Defense Ministry, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The document includes the vision and strategy of the ministry's developing program, the operational pattern targeting its development, the organizational structure, governance, and human resources requirements which were drafted in line with the national defense strategy.

The decree also included the appointment, promotion and retirement of a number of officials:

- General Abdulrahman al-Bunyan was referred to retirement after completing his service as chief of staff.

- Fayyad al-Ruweili was promoted and appointed chief of staff.

- Commander of the air defense forces Mohammed Sahim was referred to retirement after completing his service.

- Commander of the land forces Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz was relieved of his duties and appointed commander of the joint forces.

- Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz was relieved of his post as Governor of Al-Joaf Region upon his request. Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the new Governor in the rank of minister.

- Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz was appointed Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the rank of minister.

- Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdulaziz was appointed Consultant at the Royal Court in the rank of minister.

- Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz was appointed Deputy Governor of the Asir Region in the rank of minister.
- Dr. Khalid bin Hussein bin Saleh Biary was appointed Assistant Ministry of Defense for Executive Affairs at the excellent rank.

- Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Miqren bin Abdulaziz was appointed Deputy Governor of Hail Region in the rank of minister.

- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsalim was relieved of his duties as deputy minister of interior.

- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsalim was relieved of his duties as member of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development.

- Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz was appointed Consultant at the Royal Court in the excellent rank.

- Prince Dr. Bandar bin Abdullah Almshari was appointed Assistant Minister of Interior for Technology Affairs at the Excellent Rank.

- Hamad bin Khalaf Alrashid Alkhalaf was relieved of his duty as undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for security affairs. He was replaced with Mohammad bin Mohanna bin Abdulaziz Almohanna at the excellent rank.

- Ibrahim bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Alsultan was appointed advisor at the Royal Court with rank of minister.

- Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan was appointed Minister of State for African Countries Affairs in the rank of minister at the Foreign Ministry.

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Gulf

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.