Iran: Agreement with Saudi Arabia Will Help Resolve Regional Crises, Including Yemen

Iranians read the headlines of Saturday morning newspapers (Reuters)
Iranians read the headlines of Saturday morning newspapers (Reuters)
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Iran: Agreement with Saudi Arabia Will Help Resolve Regional Crises, Including Yemen

Iranians read the headlines of Saturday morning newspapers (Reuters)
Iranians read the headlines of Saturday morning newspapers (Reuters)

Iranian officials had various responses to the sudden resumption of relations with Saudi Arabia, despite the agreement among all that it was a positive development.

Members of the parliament hoped the agreement with Riyadh would lead to a solution to the region's crises, including in Yemen, warning at the same time to return to square one.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that reviving relations with Saudi Arabia is an essential step in the framework of stability in the region and the Gulf and boosting regional political and economic cooperation.

Qalibaf reiterated the importance of respecting other states' sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs, hoping that "constructive decisions" would be adopted concerning regional issues, especially in Yemen, Palestine, and Lebanon.

State-owned ISNA reported that the agreement came ten months after the fifth round of security dialogues between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Iraq and Oman.

The agency pointed out that few expected progress in these negotiations, amid other developments in the issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreement or reports about the possible release of US-Iranian detainees through Omani mediation.

ISNA noted that if all goes well, the agreement will significantly reduce regional tensions, including resolving the Yemen crisis and would provide the basis for resuming relations between several Gulf countries, including Bahrain.

The rapprochement would also lead to normalizing relations with Egypt, reducing tensions in Lebanon because of its ties with Tehran, and the improvement of Syrian relations with Arab countries.

However, the agency warned that if the areas and foundations of the previous measures between the two countries were not reviewed, it was possible that the relations could return to square one.

It described the recent rapprochement as a positive and promising development for the two countries, the West Asian region, and the Islamic world. Still, it cautioned that the effectiveness of this agreement should not be exaggerated.

The agency indicated that Iranian-Saudi relations need to establish bilateral mechanisms and pillars by boosting economic and trade cooperation and creating tangible interests.

The head of the internal parliamentary committee, Mohammed Saleh Jokar, said the agreement would lead to an excellent political and economic position in the West Asian region.

He said that the geostrategic location of these two countries could play an influential role at the regional and international levels.

Meanwhile, the former head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, indicated that the rapprochement with Saudi Arabia is appropriate to get out of the political impasse, adding that it was possible to reach an agreement without mediation and not be indebted to any party.

He hoped the two parties would abide by the agreement, adding that it should be considered a good omen and would impact the revival of the nuclear deal.

For his part, the director of the office of former President Hassan Rouhani, Mahmoud Vaezi, said that the agreement under China's auspices was a continuation of the negotiations that began between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Iraq and Oman.

Vaezi added that the extremist attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January 2016 ruined the relations between the two countries and tarnished Iran's international image.

Iranian media also reported the new developments, with reformist Shargh daily saying it was the end of a seven-year impasse.

Kayhan newspaper, affiliated with the Iranian Supreme Leader's office, addressed the reformists, saying their advocates must learn to negotiate.

Sazandegi newspaper, the mouthpiece of the faction of former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, said that the agreement is "a return to Rafsanjani's strategy."



Top Trump Iran Negotiator Says Visits US Aircraft Carrier in Middle East

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
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Top Trump Iran Negotiator Says Visits US Aircraft Carrier in Middle East

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump's lead Iran negotiator Steve Witkoff on Saturday said he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier currently in the Arabian Sea, with Washington and Tehran due to hold further talks soon.

"Today, Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, Jared Kushner, and I met with the brave sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her strike group, and Carrier Air Wing 9 who are keeping us safe and upholding President Trump's message of peace through strength," said Witkoff in a social media post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran's red lines and warning against any American attack.


Israel’s Netanyahu Expected to Meet Trump in US on Wednesday and Discuss Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
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Israel’s Netanyahu Expected to Meet Trump in US on Wednesday and Discuss Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in Washington, where they will discuss negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu's office said on Saturday.

Iranian and US officials held indirect nuclear ‌talks in the ‌Omani capital ‌Muscat ⁠on Friday. ‌Both sides said more talks were expected to be held again soon.

A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran on the talks told Reuters Iran insisted ⁠on its "right to enrich uranium" ‌during the negotiations with ‍the US, ‍and that Tehran's missile capabilities ‍were not raised in the discussions.

Iranian officials have ruled out putting Iran's missiles - one of the largest such arsenals in the region - up ⁠for discussion, and have said Tehran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium.

"The Prime Minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and halting support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu's office said in a ‌statement.


Italy FM Rules Out Joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
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Italy FM Rules Out Joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)

Italy will not take part in US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace", Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Saturday, citing "insurmountable" constitutional issues.

Trump launched his "Board of Peace" at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January and some 19 countries have signed its founding charter.

But Italy's constitution bars the country from joining an organization led by a single foreign leader.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, last month noted "constitutional problems" with joining, but suggested Trump could perhaps reopen the framework "to meet the needs not only of Italy, but also of other European countries".

Tajani appeared Saturday to rule that out.

"We cannot participate in the Board of Peace because there is a constitutional limit," he told the ANSA news agency.

"This is insurmountable from a legal standpoint," he said, the day after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance at the Olympics in Milan.

Although originally meant to oversee Gaza's rebuilding, the board's charter does not limit its role to the Palestinian territory and appears to want to rival the United Nations.