Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed their diplomatic relations on March 10, 2023, after lengthy negotiations facilitated by intermediaries including China.
Meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the second emergency meeting of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) and the Arab League over the issue of Palestine, Iran's First Vice President said a new path of ties development was open for Tehran and Riyadh that is irreversible.
During the meeting held on Monday evening, the two sides addressed the actions taken so far to stop the expansion of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations and the ways to stop the Israeli brutal aggression of Palestine and Lebanon.
Iran Press/West Asia: Aref appreciated bin Salman's positions in condemning the Israeli assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and said that despite the crimes committed by the Israeli regime, the position has never weakened the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements.
He called Iran-Saudi Arabia cooperation beneficial not only for the two countries but also for the whole region and the Islamic world, noting that the close cooperation of Iran and Saudi Arabia can thwart the Israeli-cooked plots for the region and would lead to stability and peace in the region.
Tehran-Riyad Current Ties Desirable for Saudi Kingdom
The Saudi Crown Prince, for his part, confirmed Aref's notion of Iranian-Saudi growing relations and told him that the point the two sides have reached today is the desirable stance for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Muhammed bin Salman then said: "The last year's incidents in the region have never been and will never be an obstacle to the development of relations between the two countries, and I have no doubt that by the end of 2025, the relations between these two big countries in the region will have reached the highest level.
He condemned the Israeli regime's continuous aggression on Palestine and Lebanon and noted that the regime is not committed to any of the international frameworks and that due decisions and measures must be taken to re-establish peace and stability in the region.
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