Saudi defense chief meets Khamenei in historic Iran visit: What to know
Prince Khalid’s visit marks a further step in Iran and Saudi Arabia’s political reconciliation, but it comes at a tense time in the region, with the second round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations just two days away.
DUBAI/WASHINGTON — Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Tehran on Thursday, becoming the first senior royal to visit the Islamic Republic in nearly three decades — a rare diplomatic overture that signals Riyadh’s commitment to de-escalation and its desire to stay out of any potential conflict with Iran amid renewed nuclear talks with the United States.
Prince Khalid, the brother of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, arrived for an official visit at the invitation of Iran’s top military official, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, according to Saudi state news agency SPA. While in Tehran, he met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to whom he delivered a letter from Saudi King Salman, Iranian state media reported.
Upon the leadership’s directive, I met with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. During the meeting, I delivered a letter from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and conveyed the leadership’s greetings. We discussed our bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest. pic.twitter.com/JBYz1Z9zBH
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) April 17, 2025
The visit comes at a delicate moment in regional diplomacy, with US-Iran nuclear talks ongoing and speculation mounting over potential Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran has repeatedly sought assurances from Gulf neighbors — particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — that their airspace will not be used in any such operation, with or without Washington’s backing.
Saudi Arabia's aims
