RIYADH: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to engage in discussions aimed at resolving conflicts involving Israeli military operations and Iran-backed groups in Gaza and Lebanon.
“I hope that these talks will lead to better conditions for Palestine and Lebanon and contribute to establishing peace in the region,” Araghchi said during his arrival in Riyadh, as reported by Iranian state television.
Earlier that day, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated on platform X that Araghchi’s visit aimed at halting “the Israeli regime’s genocide & aggression” and alleviating the suffering of the people in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed that Araghchi met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional developments. However, no detailed information was provided.
Araghchi’s visit follows an Iranian missile attack on Israel the previous week, with the region now awaiting Israel’s response. According to Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi, Saudi Arabia is expected to ensure that its airspace is not used for attacks and support ceasefire efforts in Gaza and Lebanon.
In Beirut, Araghchi expressed Tehran’s support for a “simultaneous” ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza. Iran hailed Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel as a significant moment in the Palestinian struggle.
The dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran continues despite differing positions in conflicts such as those in Syria and Yemen. Relations between the two nations resumed in March 2023 after a China-brokered deal ended a seven-year diplomatic break.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, paused its US-brokered talks on normalizing relations with Israel after the Gaza war started, insisting that a pathway to a Palestinian state must be part of any agreement. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s stance on the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state.
Both nations have exchanged ambassadors and diplomatic visits, and Araghchi’s visit marks a significant continuation of the ongoing discussions between the regional powers.
