Saudi Military Chief Visits Iran for High-Level Discussions

Saudi Military Chief Visits Iran for High-Level Discussions
November 10, 2024, 2:26 pm

السعودية وإيران \ ليفانت نيوز

Tehran announced on Sunday that the Chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, is visiting Iran today, leading a high-level military delegation.

The Iranian official news agency (IRNA) reported that Al-Ruwaili will meet with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Bagheri to discuss bilateral and defense relations between the two countries, according to a statement from the public relations office of the Iranian General Staff.

This visit comes after the election of former U.S. President Donald Trump for a new term starting in January 2025, during which he promised to achieve peace in the Middle East.

News agencies described the visit as "rare."

Bagheri had engaged in telephone talks in December 2023 with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, during which they discussed regional developments, enhancing defense cooperation between the armed forces of both countries, and significant issues in the Islamic world.

In March of the same year, Tehran and Riyadh, with Chinese mediation, agreed to restore their relations after seven years of animosity that threatened stability and security in the Gulf region and fueled conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.

Last month, Saudi Arabia announced that it had recently conducted joint military exercises in the Arabian Sea with several countries, including Iran.

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