RIYADH: The Saudi Council of Ministers on Tuesday reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment to advancing regional de-escalation, underscoring its strong support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions, particularly the mediation efforts spearheaded by Qatar and Pakistan. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session in Riyadh.
The cabinet discussed the content of talks held on Monday between states party to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement—Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan—and senior officials of Iran. The cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to establishing regional and international security and stability, the pivotal role of the Makkah Agreement states in ensuring regional security. It reiterated the Kingdom’s support for mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, as well as for all endeavors aimed at achieving peace.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Cabinet commended the advanced capabilities of the air defense systems and their success in foiling the Houthi terrorist militia’s repeated attempts to target Makkah, Madinah, and a number of Saudi cities and facilities. The cabinet condemned these criminal attacks as a grave aggression against the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, and a flagrant provocation to Muslims worldwide. The Council affirmed the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend with full resolve the security of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, as well as the country’s citizens and residents.
At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of two letters received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, from the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and the Crown Prince from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The cabinet approved the Commercial Transactions Law. It endorsed the draft agreement between the Saudi government and the governments of other countries concerning the exemption of holders of diplomatic, special, or similar passports from entry visa requirements. Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy is also authorized to discuss and sign the draft agreement with the governments of several countries, in accordance with its provisions.
Also, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reiterated on Tuesday Iran’s conditions for ending the war with the United States, during a meeting with his security chief.
Khamenei met with Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaee, according to a Telegram statement from the supreme leader’s office.
The meeting came a day after Rezaee held talks with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in Iran, part of an effort by the three powers to defuse tensions and prevent another round of US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.
During the meeting, the first publicly announced encounter between Rezaei and the leader, they discussed “strengthening bilateral relations with neighboring countries” and “safeguarding national and regional security through the management of the Strait of Hormuz,” Khamenei’s office said.
The Iranian leader stressed the need to safeguard the rights and interests of the Iranian people and what Tehran calls the “resistance front” by fulfilling the conditions set by Iranian officials for ending the conflict.
He described the Supreme National Security Council as a central body for managing state affairs, emphasizing coordination among political, economic, cultural, and security institutions.
Khamenei highlighted the importance of protecting national and regional security through managing the strategic Strait of Hormuz and strengthening relations with neighboring countries based on mutual interests.
Rezaei briefed Khamenei on the country’s situation and measures being taken to address ongoing challenges, the statement said.
Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen in March to succeed his father and longtime ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 in central Tehran alongside senior military commanders, and was said to have been injured in the same attack.
He has only communicated through written messages since his appointment, some of them published in handwriting attributed to him.
Several Iranian officials, including Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have in recent days said they held rare meetings with the supreme leader.
