In a significant diplomatic development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday — marking the first visit by a senior Iranian official to the kingdom since Tehran’s recent air conflict with Israel.
According to Saudi state news agency SPA, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ongoing regional developments. The meeting comes amid renewed efforts to de-escalate tensions across the Middle East following the 12-day air war between Iran and Israel in June.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described Araqchi’s meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman as “fruitful” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added that Araqchi had stopped in Saudi Arabia on his return journey from Brazil to discuss regional peace and security.
Recap of the 12-Day Iran-Israel Conflict
The deadly confrontation between Iran and Israel, which erupted on June 13, was triggered by what Tehran called unprovoked Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Over 200 Israeli fighter jets were reportedly involved in the initial attacks.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 Iranians were killed and 4,746 injured, including 185 women and 13 children. The strikes also devastated public infrastructure, damaging hospitals, ambulances, and emergency services. Among the dead were senior nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The youngest known victim was a two-month-old infant.
Iran retaliated by launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli targets, with Tel Aviv and Haifa among the most affected cities. Israel’s military reported that around 1,000 projectiles were launched, 90% of which were intercepted, resulting in 28 deaths and 3,238 injuries across Israel.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project, Israel carried out at least 508 airstrikes during the escalation. An independent count by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency placed the number of combined Israeli and U.S. strikes at 145.
A Step Toward Diplomatic Reengagement
Araqchi’s visit marks a potential turning point in Saudi-Iranian relations, with regional powers now seeking to stabilize the situation following one of the most intense direct confrontations between Iran and Israel in recent history.
1 Comment
Your blog is a treasure trove of valuable insights and thought-provoking commentary. Your dedication to your craft is evident in every word you write. Keep up the fantastic work!