Mohammad Shariati Dehaghan, Former Iranian representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), told IRNA on Friday that the recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati to Iran has renewed discussions on the future of Tehran–Riyadh relations and their role in easing regional tensions.
The Saudi official traveled to Tehran on November 30 for consultations with Iranian officials. In a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, both sides reviewed bilateral relations, potential avenues for cooperation, and developments in key regional files, including Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Al-Sati also held talks with Mohammad-Reza Raouf Sheibani, Iran’s special envoy for Syrian affairs.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the visit fits into a two-year process aimed at rebuilding communication channels and strengthening confidence between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He noted that the two countries remain determined to continue this path as part of broader efforts to support regional security.
Shariati Dehaghan stressed that regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar can play constructive roles in resolving the Syrian crisis. He argued that recent developments involving the Israeli regime have pushed Syria to seek closer ties with regional states, and that Turkish and Saudi engagement in resolving Syria’s internal challenges would be highly desirable.
He said persistent Iran–Saudi differences, spanning Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Palestinian issue, have slowed progress in bilateral ties despite the 2023 normalization agreement. He emphasized that these conflicts of interest must be addressed one by one if political and economic relations are to advance.
He also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s potential to help manage tensions between Iran and the United States, arguing that if Tehran and Riyadh can reduce friction, Riyadh could become a significant channel for de-escalation.
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