Iran’s foreign minister recently engaged in discussions with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, amid a fragile ceasefire established between Iran and Israel two weeks prior. The Saudi foreign ministry reported that during this meeting, Prince Mohammed expressed hopes that the truce would foster regional stability and underscored Riyadh’s commitment to resolving disputes through diplomatic dialogue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reciprocated by thanking Saudi Arabia for its condemnation of Israel’s military actions against Iran, which began with a substantial bombing campaign on June 13. The offensive targeted Iranian military facilities and civilian areas, leading to significant casualties—over 1,000 deaths, as reported by Tehran, including high-profile military personnel and nuclear scientists. The strikes prompted retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Iran, resulting in at least 28 fatalities in Israel.
In conjunction with these heightened tensions, the United States had been discussing Iran’s nuclear program since April. However, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, negotiations between Tehran and Washington became stalled, even as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24.
Historically, Iran and Saudi Arabia have found themselves on opposing sides of various regional conflicts, particularly in Syria and Yemen, driven in part by their contrasting sectarian identities—Iran’s Shiite majority against Saudi Arabia’s Sunni majority. The two nations cut diplomatic ties in 2016, only to restore them earlier this year in a reconciliation agreement facilitated by China. This diplomatic breakthrough has been viewed as a significant achievement for Prince Mohammed, who has adopted a more conciliatory stance in regional affairs lately.
Saudi Arabia has publicly denounced Israel’s strikes on Iran, characterizing them as “aggressions” and breaches of international law, while also voicing concerns regarding U.S. military operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Following the talks, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei noted that Araghchi’s discussions with Prince Mohammed, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman proved to be “fruitful,” addressing topics related to bilateral relations and ongoing regional developments.
