Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to visit Riyadh on Sunday, November 12, where he will attend an emergency meeting of the leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a source told Iran Nuances. The primary objective of this gathering will be to engage in discussions surrounding the prevailing situation in Palestine.
In a telephone conversation today on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan deliberated on the latest developments in Palestine. During this exchange, they emphasized the imperative need to convene an extraordinary summit of OIC leaders, intending to thoroughly examine the ongoing developments in Palestine, curb the perpetration of war crimes against Gaza and the West Bank, and sustain the continuous provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
During a cabinet meeting held on October 29, the President of Iran advocated for the convocation of the OIC leaders’ summit on Palestine. He regarded this meeting as an additional measure in the concerted effort to halt Israel’s transgressions in Gaza. While the President’s visit to Riyadh falls under the framework of a regional initiative, it potentially paves the way for the possibility of a meeting with the King or Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Foreign Minister visited Iran on June 17, which was followed by a reciprocal visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Saudi Arabia on August 17. These encounters served to strengthen bilateral relations and led to the invitation for the President of Iran to visit Riyadh.
On October 18, an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation took place in Jeddah, with the participation of foreign ministers from member countries. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian attended this meeting as the head of the Iranian delegation.
Throughout the sidelines of the Jeddah meeting, Iran’s Foreign Minister engaged in meetings and conversations with various counterparts, including the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and representatives from other member countries. The purpose of these interactions was to coordinate positions on issues pertaining to Palestine.
