Saudi Arabia hopes to see Iran’s president visit following King’s invitation

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud hold a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 17, 2023. (REUTERS)
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Updated 17 August 2023
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Saudi Arabia hopes to see Iran’s president visit following King’s invitation

  • Iran and Saudi Arabia earlier agreed to end a diplomatic rift and reestablish relations following years of hostility
  • Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived Thursday in Riyadh, held talks with his Saudi counterpart

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia hopes to see Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi visit the Kingdom following an invitation from King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday in a press conference with his Iranian counterpart.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived Thursday in Riyadh on his first trip Saudi Arabia since a landmark rapprochement deal in March. Amir-Abdollahian has confirmed that Raisi will visit Saudi Arabia anytime soon.

Iran and Saudi Arabia earlier agreed in a China-brokered deal to end a diplomatic rift and reestablish relations following years of hostility that had endangered regional stability in the Gulf, as well as in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked its embassy in Tehran in retaliation for Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Prince Faisal added that the countries’ corresponding ambassadors will start in their positions in their respective embassies after their reopening as a result of the two countries ending a diplomatic rift in March and reestablishing relations.

He also thanked the Iranian envoy for his country’s support in Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030.

Amir-Abdollahian has said that talks with Saudi Arabia have been successful, and both parties have agreed to work together and find immediate solutions to pressing issues in the region.

He also reiterated that Tehran was committed to efforts in achieving security and peace in the region.


Israeli forces kill 24-year-old Palestinian in Jericho

Updated 04 February 2026
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Israeli forces kill 24-year-old Palestinian in Jericho

  • Saeed Al-Sheikh shot dead and 3 other Palestinians wounded during military raid in the city

LONDON: Israeli forces shot and killed a 24-year-old Palestinian on Tuesday evening during a raid in the city of Jericho, east of the occupied West Bank.

The Ministry of Health said Saeed Al-Sheikh was killed by Israeli gunfire, and three other Palestinians sustained injuries of varying severity.

Earlier in the day, also in Jericho, three Palestinians were injured when Israeli forces opened fire with live ammunition during an incursion into the city. Two others were beaten during the operation and a woman was hit by an Israeli military vehicle, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.