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Saudi Defense Minister Visits Tehran in Historic Diplomatic Move

Prince Khalid bin Salman holds high-level talks with Iranian officials as U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations reach pivotal phase.

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Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman al-Saud reacts as he attends a meeting with French Defence Minister at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris on December 19, 2023. (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images)
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting with officials, Islamic countries' ambassador to Iran and a group of people in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 31, 2025.
In this photo released by the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi attends a meeting with the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran via AP)

Overview

  • Prince Khalid bin Salman becomes the highest-ranking Saudi royal to visit Iran since 1997, signaling deepening ties between the two nations.
  • The Saudi defense minister is meeting with Major General Mohammad Bagheri to discuss defense cooperation, regional stability, and counter-terrorism efforts.
  • The visit highlights a significant shift in Saudi-Iran relations following the 2023 China-brokered normalization agreement.
  • The trip coincides with U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set to resume in Rome this weekend, described as being at a critical juncture by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
  • Grossi emphasized the IAEA's role in verifying compliance should a nuclear agreement be reached, as tensions over Iran's nuclear program continue to grow.