Prince Khalid’s Iran visit creates a positive atmosphere

The visit of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to the Iranian capital, Tehran, this month and his meeting with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei carried several political implications, particularly as he delivered a written message from King Salman. This indicates there has been communication between the highest authorities in Saudi Arabia and Iran, highlighting the significance and confidentiality of the message’s content.
What does it mean for a letter to be handwritten? This approach to messaging involves assigning a person to write the message by hand, dictated by the king, who then signs it himself. The message is placed in a special envelope, within an elegant leather folder adorned with the emblem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A written message typically conveys respect, while it also signifies the importance of the content, necessitating a high level of seriousness in its consideration.
The written message was conveyed by Prince Khalid, the son of the king and brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He possesses both military and political expertise, having served as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington. He also participated in the initial stages of Operation Decisive Storm in 2015 and has been responsible for various political and security matters assigned to him by the crown prince, particularly regarding the Yemen conflict. This background explains the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber during Prince Khalid’s visit to Iran.
Al-Jaber’s presence in the discussions between the Saudi delegation led by Prince Khalid and the Iranian delegation headed by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Bagheri indicates that the Yemeni issue was a significant topic of conversation. This is particularly relevant given the strong ties between Iran and the Houthis, led by Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, which has conducted terrorist operations against the Kingdom in recent years. However, Riyadh has reached an understanding with the Houthis to cease hostilities, paving the way for a lasting peace in Yemen that includes all parties and the formation of a national unity government in which the Houthis will participate.
In September 2023, Prince Khalid met with the “Sanaa delegation,” when “it was reaffirmed that the Kingdom will continue to support Yemen and its brotherly people, and its constant keenness to encourage the Yemeni parties to sit at the dialogue table to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen under the supervision of the United Nations,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Saudi Arabia aims to ensure stability in Yemen by promoting internal reconciliation, fostering a genuine and serious political process, and facilitating an open dialogue that includes all parties, ultimately leading to the resolution of the existing division and political stagnation.
At the same time, there are risks threatening the security of maritime routes, particularly in the Red Sea and the Bab El-Mandab Strait, due to the involvement of the Houthis in supporting Hamas and launching missile strikes against Israeli targets. This has also endangered maritime navigation by targeting a number of commercial vessels under the pretext that they are Israeli or American or carrying goods for Israel, prompting many shipping vessels to alter their routes.

Riyadh seeks to ease tensions and push for comprehensive regional reconciliations that will reduce the likelihood of war. 

Hassan Al-Mustafa

This prompted the administration of US President Donald Trump to decide to intensify military strikes against Houthi leaders in Yemen, as well as their training centers and weapons depots, until the Houthis cease their military operations.
These events collectively heighten the level of tension in the Middle East and the Red Sea, a tension that Saudi Arabia does not wish to persist as it jeopardizes its national and regional security.
Hence, the ceasefire file in Yemen is a critically important issue. Riyadh hopes that Tehran will exert genuine pressure and persuade the Houthis, its ally, to cease their military operations.
It is true that there is a continuous Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, along with daily violations of the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria and a systematic displacement of Palestinians from their lands. However, despite the extreme brutality of these Israeli crimes, they will not be halted by the missiles or drones of the Houthis. Therefore, it is essential to consider alternative solutions that are more effective and lead to a just peace, ultimately resulting in a two-state solution.
There are also files concerning the armed factions in Iraq, Hezbollah and its weaponry in Lebanon, and the relationship with the new regime in Syria. All these files will be monitored for changes in the upcoming phase, particularly regarding the performance of Iran’s allies in these countries.
Through these foreign issues, where the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran intersects, Riyadh seeks to ease tensions and push for comprehensive regional reconciliations that will reduce the likelihood of war. This is because Saudi Arabia is concerned with consolidating peace and security so that its massive development and economic plans, outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, can succeed.
On the other hand, there are ongoing Iranian-American negotiations, facilitated by Oman, regarding Iran’s nuclear program. To date, three rounds of these discussions have taken place, with Saudi Arabia expressing its support for them.
Saudi Arabia’s support for a serious dialogue between Tehran and Washington has not been merely verbal; Saudi diplomacy actively engaged in its relations to avert any potential US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. While Riyadh opposes any efforts that would allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, the Kingdom simultaneously recognizes that war poses a significant threat to all Gulf Cooperation Council countries and thus has advocated for its prevention.
Another matter is that Saudi Arabia expects Iran to adhere to the terms outlined in the security agreement the two countries signed in 2001, which is commonly referred to as the Naif-Rouhani agreement. This deal provides a regulatory framework from which current and future security cooperation can be initiated, while also preventing any violations or interference in the internal affairs of either nation.
A significantly positive atmosphere has been generated by Prince Khalid’s visit to Iran and his meeting with Khamenei. The next steps will depend on actions, bilateral cooperation and the initiation of measures to strengthen the region and close any gaps that extremists in Israel or terrorists might exploit to undermine the fragile security in the Middle East.

• Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa