Sultan of Oman, Jordan King Discuss Joint Cooperation

Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Sultan of Oman, Jordan King Discuss Joint Cooperation

Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik and Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein held expanded talks on Wednesday in Amman and stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The two monarchs met at the Basman Palace and exchanged views on issues of common concern on the Arab and international arenas, most notably the current situation in the Gaza Strip and in the occupied Palestinian territories.
They stressed the need to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, protect civilians and intensify efforts to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip.
They reviewed aspects of bilateral cooperation and means of promoting them at various levels to serve the joint interests and the fraternal ties between the two countries, the Oman News Agency said.
Prior to the session, the Sultan of Oman and the Jordanian King held a closed-door meeting.
On the Omani side, the meeting was attended by Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs; Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court Gen.; Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdussalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority; and Sheikh Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al Ojaili, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
From the Jordanian side the meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein, Head of the Mission of Honour that accompanies His Majesty the Sultan; Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; Yousef Issawi, Chief of the Royal Court; Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; Maj.Gen Ahmad Husni, Chief of the General Intelligence Department; Jaafar Hassan, Director of the King’s Office; Kholoud Saqqaf, Minister of Investment; Amjad Quhaiwi, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Sultanate of Oman and some senior Jordanian officials.
Sultan Haitham arrived in Jordan on Wednesday for a two-day visit.



Saudi Arabia Destroys Ballistic Missile, 2 Drones in Eastern Region, al-Kharj

Official spokesman of the Saudi Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Official spokesman of the Saudi Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Destroys Ballistic Missile, 2 Drones in Eastern Region, al-Kharj

Official spokesman of the Saudi Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Official spokesman of the Saudi Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Official spokesman of the Saudi Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki announced on Tuesday that the Kingdom's defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at the Eastern Region.

They also destroyed two drones fired at the al-Kharj region, 80 kms southeast of Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia had on Monday expressed its “categorical condemnation of the reprehensible” Iranian attacks against the Kingdom, Gulf Cooperation Council and several Arab, Islamic and friendly countries.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the attacks “cannot be accepted or justified in any way.”

It stressed that the Kingdom reserves its “full right to take the necessary measures to protect its security, sovereignty and safety of its citizens and residents, and repel the aggression.”

On Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s remarks on Saturday that his country has no intention to harm neighboring countries, the statement said: “The Kingdom can confirm that the Iranians have not applied this on the ground, before or after the president’s speech.”

“The attacks have continued on baseless grounds,” it asserted.


Saudi Defense Minister Receives Calls from French, Swedish Counterparts on Regional Escalation

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
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Saudi Defense Minister Receives Calls from French, Swedish Counterparts on Regional Escalation

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received separate phone calls on Tuesday from French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin and Swedish Minister of Defense Pål Jonson.

During the calls, the ministers condemned the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and discussed regional developments and the repercussions of the ongoing escalation on regional security and stability, as well as on international peace and security.


Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with New Zealand, Italian Counterparts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
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Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with New Zealand, Italian Counterparts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Tuesday from New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During their call, the two ministers discussed the latest regional developments and their implications for security and stability.

Peters expressed New Zealand’s condemnation of indiscriminate attacks launched by Iran against Saudi Arabia and thanked the Kingdom for its efforts to protect foreign nationals, including New Zealand citizens present in the country.

On Monday, the Saudi Minister held phone talks with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani. The talks focued on the latest regional developments and their repercussions on security and stability.

Tajani emphasized the importance of de-escalation and expressed his country's solidarity with the Kingdom, condemning the Iranian attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia and several other countries in the region.