Saudi defense minister makes rare Iran visit amid nuclear deal concerns

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, arrived in Tehran on Thursday for a landmark visit, the first by a senior Saudi royal in decades. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, as Iran continues nuclear negotiations with the United States and Israel.

In an unprecedented move, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Tehran on Thursday for a rare diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening defense relations and regional stability.

The visit marks the highest-level Saudi trip to Iran in decades, with the last visit by a senior Saudi official occurring in 1997 under King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Khalid, the son of Saudi King Salman, will meet with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, with discussions focused on bolstering defense cooperation, regional peace efforts, and combating terrorism.

According to the Iranian news outlet ISNA, these key topics highlight the growing efforts to stabilize the region.

The visit comes amid ongoing nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, as both sides work toward a new nuclear agreement.

The Saudi-Iranian dialogue also takes place in the shadow of escalating threats from the US and Israel, which have warned of potential strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if the negotiations falter.

Iran has strongly countered that any attack on its territory could spark a broader regional conflict, with the US maintaining a military presence in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states.

While the diplomatic thaw between Saudi Arabia and Iran began two years ago, following years of strained relations, Thursday’s meeting is particularly significant due to the context of the broader geopolitical situation.

In 2016, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, an event triggered by the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia.

This event marked the beginning of a proxy war that has deeply impacted the region, especially in Yemen, where the two nations have backed opposing sides in the ongoing civil war.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has begun to improve in recent years, especially after both countries signed a historic normalization deal brokered by China.

This process has seen military engagements, including joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman last October, and diplomatic visits, such as that of Saudi Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili to Tehran in November.

Tensions have remained high, particularly regarding the conflict in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched missiles at Saudi and UAE targets.

The Gulf states, wary of escalating conflict, have expressed concerns about the potential for regional instability, particularly regarding the safety of vital oil infrastructure in the event of further strikes between Iran and Israel.

The visit of Prince Khalid bin Salman, amidst these concerns, underscores the shifting dynamics between Saudi Arabia and Iran as both nations seek to manage their interests in the volatile region.

The discussions in Tehran this week are expected to address not only military and defense matters but also the broader goal of regional peace.