Dubai, August 18 (Reuters) – In a significant diplomatic development, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday, marking the highest-level discussions since the two countries reconciled their differences in March. This rendezvous comes after years of intense rivalry that had fueled instability across the region.
The unanticipated meeting took place in Jeddah, and it follows Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian’s recent arrival in the kingdom. He had earlier stated that bilateral relations were progressing positively after dialogues with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Amirabdollahian shared his thoughts on the meeting through a social media post, describing the discussions as “frank, beneficial, and productive.” He emphasized the common ground reached by both nations on matters of regional security and development.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to as MbS, has undertaken a shift in Saudi foreign policy in recent times, responding to challenges in its historically close relationship with the United States.
Footage aired by Iranian state media showcased a genial interaction between MbS and Amirabdollahian, with both parties exchanging smiles while discussing matters. Saudi state news agency SPA disclosed that the talks encompassed global and regional developments.
For years, the rivalry between Iran’s Shi’ite Muslim leaders and Saudi Arabia’s Sunni ruling family had been the defining dynamic in the Middle East. This competition played out across arenas such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Bahrain, often amid sectarian strife.
However, a rapprochement brokered by China in March led to the restoration of full diplomatic ties. These ties had been severed in 2016 when protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran in response to Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric.
Prince Faisal’s visit to Tehran in June set the stage for further diplomatic efforts, with hopes that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would reciprocate by visiting Saudi Arabia in due time.
After years of competition, and with several key regional fronts becoming more stable, both sides have incentives to adjust their strategies. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sought to end the political and economic isolation exacerbated by the United States. For Iran, establishing new relations with Saudi Arabia was seen as a potential route toward this goal.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia had grown wary of the U.S.’s commitment to shared regional security concerns and sought to strengthen ties with China, a country that maintained favorable relations with Iran. Notably, Saudi Arabia succeeded in securing China’s participation in a diplomatic meeting concerning Ukraine, a participation that China had earlier shied away from.
Prince Faisal’s engagement extended beyond the Iranian meeting; he also engaged in a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary General Antony Blinken. Their discussion centered on increasing coordination to enhance “security and stability in the Middle East region,” as reported by Saudi state media on Friday.