CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi discussed developments in the region at a meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported.
Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has had a political rapprochement with Tehran in recent years, which has helped ease regional tensions, but relations remain difficult.
Speaking earlier, a senior Iranian official said Araqchi would discuss discuss bilateral issues and efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza on his visit, adding that he will also visit Qatar later in the day.
The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s response to an Iranian missile strike last week, which Tehran carried out in retaliation for Israel’s escalation against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in a conflict running in parallel to the Gaza war.
Earlier this week, Tehran told Gulf Arab states it would be “unacceptable” if they allowed use of their airspace or military bases against Iran and warned that any such move would draw a response, a senior Iranian official said.