Head of US Central Command Stresses Importance of ‘Implementing’ Saudi-Iran Deal

Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, testifies Thursday, March 16, 2023, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)
Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, testifies Thursday, March 16, 2023, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)
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Head of US Central Command Stresses Importance of ‘Implementing’ Saudi-Iran Deal

Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, testifies Thursday, March 16, 2023, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)
Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, testifies Thursday, March 16, 2023, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, who leads the US Central Command, emphasized on Thursday that the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is the culmination of ongoing discussions that started between both nations two years ago.

During a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee, the General also highlighted that the importance of the agreement lies in its implementation.

Kurilla said the US military had blocked five major arms shipments from Iran to Yemen over the past ninety days, while the discussions were ongoing.

He added that the complexity of the security and political situations in the region were the reasons why Iran’s expansionist goals were behind the decision to establish the Central Command in 1983.

“Forty years later, while much of geopolitics and policy has transformed, the security landscape of this part of the world remains largely unchanged,” he said.

Kurilla added that in many important ways, the region’s most vexing problems have grown more complex. “Now, as then, the world’s geographically central region remains critical to American security interests, global trade, global energy, and global security.”

The US Commander warned that Iran has the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles capable of hitting the entire Middle East and the Levant.

Additionally, he said the Iranian regime possesses the largest and most capable drone force in the region, and any disruption in the maritime choke points flowing through the Middle East or instability in the region could threaten vital national interests and endanger the global economy.

“Iran’s military capabilities over the past forty years are unparalleled in the region, and the IRGC corps is unrecognizable compared to five years ago,” Kurilla affirmed.

He also expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear program, stating that Tehran can now produce enough fissile material to make a nuclear weapon in less than 14 days.

In addition, the regime invests heavily in information operations, including broadcasting, coordinated inauthentic activity, and cyber-attacks, Kurilla said.

Therefore, the US Commander stressed that deterring Iran is arguably more urgent than at any time in CENTCOM’s history due to Tehran’s cutting-edge missile and UAV capability as well as its uranium enrichment program.

He described Iran as the most destabilizing actor in the region.

“Today, Iran is undeterred from its malign activities, which include conventional threats to neighbors, support to violent proxy groups that spread chaos and instability throughout the region, and support to Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Kurilla told the Senate.

He then affirmed that Iran now commands an arsenal of drone systems, and is building larger drones that threaten both US partners and tens of thousands of Americans in the Gulf.

“Until the United States helped secure the Yemen truce, Iran was regularly using Yemen as a testing ground for these weapons,” the Commander said.

Kurilla also noted that Tehran continues to furnish weapons, support, and direction to proxies across the region who engage in acts of terror and undermine local governments, all advancing Iranian interests.

“The proxy forces are more emboldened and dangerous through the increased proliferation of these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which allow them to target US and partner interests with increased speed, range, accuracy, and explosive capacity,” he said.



Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reviewed on Tuesday the Kingdom's ongoing efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and bolster global economic growth. This includes continued cooperation and coordination with producers within the OPEC+ group to maintain stability in oil markets.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah on Tuesday.

He briefed the cabinet on the discussions he held with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the telephone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The cabinet praised the outcomes of the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council, which reflected the strength of bilateral relations and the mutual keenness to elevate them to broader horizons.

It welcomed the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between private-sector entities in both countries, covering clean energy, petrochemical industries, and aviation fuel services, contributing to the shared ambition of establishing an advanced economic partnership.

The cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of the 21st general conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November. The conference aims to develop joint solutions to challenges related to sustainable industrialization, innovation, and technological transformation.

Moreover, the cabinet praised the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of a resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia to protect children in the digital space, stemming from the “Child Protection in Cyberspace” global initiative launched by the Crown Prince.

The move reinforces the initiative's international goals and reflects the Kingdom’s vision through practical steps toward a safe and inclusive digital environment for this age group.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia's continued ranking in the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook’s cybersecurity indicator for 2025, noting that the achievement adds to the series of successes the sector has accomplished in record time across various international levels. It noted the sector’s successes in supporting technological prosperity, localization of priority technologies, and enhancement of international cooperation.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the ICT Development Index 2025 issued by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The achievement confirms the robustness of the Kingdom’s smart digital infrastructure, its attractive investment environment, and the growth of its local digital economy, which has reached SAR495 billion.

The cabinet hailed ongoing successes in combating drug trafficking, including the arrest of criminal networks involved in the trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances in Saudi Arabia. It underscored the continuous security and preventive efforts aimed at protecting the community from this serious issue.