Saudi-Iran Defense Talks Amid Arab-Islamic Summit

Saudi Arabia's Chief of Staff, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, visited Tehran for high-level talks with his Iranian counterpart, General Mohammad Bagheri, focusing on defense diplomacy and enhanced bilateral cooperation, marking a significant development since the two countries restored diplomatic ties brokered by China in 2023. The discussions included potential participation of the Saudi navy in future Iranian naval exercises. Concurrently, an Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, attended by leaders such as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focused on addressing Israeli actions in Palestine and Lebanon, with calls for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also had discussions prior to the summit. Egypt, represented by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, reiterated its commitment to Palestinian self-determination and criticized Israeli actions at the summit. This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst complexities in regional politics, including Donald Trump's plans to address the Israel-Hamas conflict as he prepares for a second term as U.S. president.