Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a senior Iranian official to the kingdom since Tehran’s brief war with Israel.
The meeting came in the aftermath of a 12-day conflict that saw unprecedented escalation between Iran and Israel, with the United States stepping in to mediate a ceasefire after bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the intensity of the hostilities, both Tehran and Riyadh appear committed to maintaining their recent rapprochement.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the discussions between Araghchi and Prince Mohammed were “fruitful”, and covered a broad range of regional and bilateral issues.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency, SPA, reported that the two leaders “reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in that regard”. The Crown Prince underscored the kingdom’s hope that the ceasefire would lead to “conditions that promote security and stability in the region”.
He reiterated Riyadh’s stance in favour of dialogue and diplomatic solutions to resolve regional disputes. Araghchi, for his part, expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the Israeli military campaign, which left hundreds dead, including top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.
In addition to the meeting with the Crown Prince, the Iranian foreign minister also held discussions with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The June 13 Israeli offensive—described by Tehran as an unprovoked act of aggression—triggered a volatile chain of events in the region. Following the Israeli bombardment, the United States struck key Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Iran to retaliate with a missile attack on a US base in Qatar. The situation de-escalated after a ceasefire announcement by US President Donald Trump.
While the conflict strained regional relations, Iran appears intent on mending fences with its Gulf neighbours. Analysts say Araghchi’s visit signals Tehran’s effort to reassure Riyadh and other Arab capitals of its continued interest in diplomatic engagement.
Iran and Saudi Arabia formally restored diplomatic ties in 2023 following a China-brokered agreement, ending years of hostilities marked by mutual accusations of regional interference.
Before the recent escalation, Saudi Arabia had expressed support for Iran’s engagement in nuclear talks with the US, highlighting the kingdom’s preference for diplomacy over confrontation.
In comments published on Tuesday in the Financial Times, Araghchi accused Israel of deliberately provoking conflict to derail diplomatic efforts. “Iran remains interested in diplomacy, but we have good reason to have doubts about further dialogue,” he wrote, adding that any renewed negotiations with the US would require a “genuine readiness” for an equitable outcome.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday signalled his willingness to pursue dialogue with Washington, though he acknowledged that trust remains a key obstacle following the recent US strikes on Iranian facilities.
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