Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Thursday, April 17, 2025, for a significant visit expected to further cement the improving relations between the two regional powers. The trip marks the highest-level official visit by a member of the Saudi royal family to the Iranian capital in recent years and since the restoration of the diplomatic relations in March 2023.
Prince Khalid is expected to hold crucial meetings with high-ranking Iranian military and political officials during his stay.
He will meet Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces in Iran, and subsequently, other important meetings will be arranged for him.
The timing of the visit and Prince Khalid’s senior position within the Saudi leadership structure are seen as underscoring the importance Riyadh attaches to this engagement.
Discussions are anticipated to cover a wide range of pressing regional issues. Key topics on the agenda reportedly include the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the complex situations in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq as well as broader security cooperation and stability in the Persian Gulf region.
Beyond regional security matters, bilateral issues will also be addressed. Potential defense cooperation frameworks are expected to be key points of discussion.
Furthermore, recent expressions of interest by Saudi Arabia in potentially playing a role or contributing to the talks between Iran and the United States may also feature in the conversations on Thursday, adding another dimension to the high-stakes diplomatic visit.
This visit builds upon the agreement reached between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023, which restored diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.
