Iran’s FM Araghchi, Saudi Crown Prince MBS hold ‘fruitful’ talks in Jeddah
Al JazeeraJUL 10
Iran's Foreign Minister Visits Saudi Arabia After Israel-Iran Ceasefire
Above: Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud meets Abbas Araghchi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 9, 2024. Image copyright: Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Iran narrative
This meeting underlines once again that Iran and Saudi Arabia are serious about diplomatic rapprochement, and that U.S. and Israeli aggression cannot undermine emerging Muslim unity. Tehran is grateful for the Kingdom's condemnation of Israel's unprovoked attack on its territory and remains committed to its "neighborhood first" foreign policy of promoting regional peace and stability by strengthening relations with the Gulf states.
Anti-Iran narrative
Saudi Arabia hosting the Iranian Foreign Minister symbolizes pragmatic diplomacy and is by no means a sign of growing trust in the Iranian regime, which has recently proven yet again that it poses a threat to regional stability and peace. This is also the reason why the Gulf states have covertly welcomed the Israeli pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Diplomacy is one option for containing Tehran, but caution is needed.