Fayyad al-Ruwaili, Saudi Arabia’s Chief of Staff (Image source: X)
Saudi Arabia’s Chief of Staff, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, arrived in Tehran on Sunday to meet his Iranian counterpart for talks aimed at strengthening defence ties, according to a report by Reuters.
This visit comes shortly after Donald Trump’s recent victory in the US presidential election, as he prepares for a second term in January, with a pledge to bring peace to the Middle East. During his first term, Trump initiated the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between some Arab states and Israel, Iran’s regional adversary.
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While Saudi Arabia has not formalised ties with Israel, discussions involving Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reportedly taken place, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Al-Ruwaili, leading a high-level Saudi delegation, met with Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, with discussions focusing on “developing defence diplomacy and expanding bilateral cooperation,” as reported by Reuters.
In addition, Bagheri had a phone conversation with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud last year, during which they discussed regional issues and aimed to enhance defence collaboration. Iran’s state broadcaster, Al Alam, also reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone, though the details were not disclosed.
In March 2023, Tehran and Riyadh restored diplomatic relations after a seven-year rift, following Chinese-brokered negotiations. This reconciliation aims to stabilise the Gulf region and address conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.
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