A week after Gulf Arab states reaffirmed their neutrality in the Iran-Israel conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The visit aims to prevent Israeli strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah, amidst escalating tensions in the region.
The meeting between Iran and Saudi Arabia comes after a significant thaw in relations between the two regional powers, following a diplomatic breakthrough in March 2023. Both countries have historically been at odds, with Iran being a Shiite-majority nation and Saudi Arabia a Sunni-majority kingdom.
As part of the visit, Araghchi will meet with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss strategies to halt “Israeli crimes” in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, announced that the discussions would focus on stopping Israel’s military actions, which he referred to as “genocide and aggression” in Gaza and Lebanon. He added that the trip is part of Iran’s broader diplomatic efforts in coordination with regional countries.
Meanwhile, on the military front, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it had struck 230 targets across Gaza and Lebanon in the previous 24 hours. This included 185 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and 45 Hamas sites in Gaza, as Israel continues its campaign against these militant groups.
Saudi Arabia and Iran, the region’s top oil exporters, have experienced a cautious rapprochement in recent years. Tensions between the two countries eased after a surprise China-brokered deal in 2023, following a seven-year rupture. However, Saudi Arabia remains wary of potential Iranian strikes, especially after the 2019 attack on its Abqaiq oil refinery, which temporarily disrupted global oil supplies. Although Iran denied responsibility, the event continues to shape regional security concerns.
In another development, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to the US has been postponed. He was scheduled to discuss the ongoing conflict in West Asia with US officials, though the reason for the cancellation remains unclear according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
