RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and discussed regional and global developments.
During the meeting, Prince Khalid delivered a letter from King Salman and conveyed the greetings of the Kingdom’s leadership.
Ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and topics of mutual interest were also discussed at the meeting, Prince Khalid wrote on X.
According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a meeting with the Saudi Defence Minister said that the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will benefit both nations and that the two countries can complement each other.
He stressed the importance of mutual support among brothers, noting that it is far better for brothers to help each other than to rely on outsiders.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the Saudi Defence Minister said that he was in Tehran to expand relations and cooperation with Iran across all areas.
Prince Khalid was also received by President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. Regional and global developments and related efforts were discussed during the meeting.
The minister arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran on an official visit earlier on Thursday.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi Defence Minister is visiting Iran at the directives of the Saudi leadership.
The visit comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, discussing regional developments and joint efforts to address them.
Earlier this month Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussed regional developments during a call with the President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.
The two leaders also exchanged congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. They also discussed recent developments in the region and reviewed several issues of mutual concern.
Back in November 2024, the chief of staff of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, visited Tehran on an invitation from Major General Baqeri and met with Iranian military officials.
