YONI BEN MENACHEM -- Last week, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman made a rare official visit to Tehran. The visit came at a sensitive time, amid rising tensions in the region since October 7 and renewed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
Senior security officials describe this as a turning point in Saudi policy toward Iran, after years of rivalry and mutual accusations. Traditionally, Saudi Arabia, the Sunni powerhouse, has viewed Shiite-led Iran as a major regional threat. Now, Riyadh appears to be rethinking that approach.
The visit reportedly aimed to open direct dialogue with Tehran and signal Saudi Arabia's intent to stabilize the region. It included a personal message from King Salman to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—marking the highest-level contact since ties were severed in 2016.
Arab media reports say the prince conveyed the kingdom's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. Khamenei responded positively, saying better ties would benefit both nations and the broader region.
Security issues dominated discussions, especially the war in Yemen and regional stability. Saudi Arabia made it clear it is not involved in any Israeli-American plans to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities and would not allow attacks from its soil.
Saudi officials also noted the symbolic timing—this visit took place just before U.S.-Iran talks in Rome, underscoring Riyadh’s desire to play a proactive role in shaping regional dynamics.
The visit follows a February trip to Washington, where Prince Khalid met with his U.S. counterpart to enhance military cooperation. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen also accompanied him, highlighting Yemen’s importance to these talks.
Security officials link this rapprochement to Saudi fears of Iranian retaliation—especially after past missile and drone attacks on its oil infrastructure, like the 2019 Aramco strike.
Amid unclear U.S. regional policy and escalating Houthi-American clashes, Saudi Arabia is working to de-escalate tensions and avoid direct conflict with Iranian-backed forces.
Since the March 2023 Beijing-brokered reconciliation, both countries have increased diplomatic engagement. But in Israel, the Saudi-Iran thaw is viewed with suspicion—seen as a betrayal and a drift away from alignment with Jerusalem.