YONI BEN MENACHEM -- Last week, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman made a rare official visit to Tehran. The visit came at a sensitive time, amid rising tensions in the region since October 7 and renewed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
Senior security officials describe this as a turning point in Saudi policy toward Iran, after years of rivalry and mutual accusations. Traditionally, Saudi Arabia, the Sunni powerhouse, has viewed Shiite-led Iran as a major regional threat. Now, Riyadh appears to be rethinking that approach.
The visit reportedly aimed to open direct dialogue with Tehran and signal Saudi Arabia's intent to stabilize the region. It included a personal message from King Salman to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—marking the highest-level contact since ties were severed in 2016.
Arab media reports say the prince conveyed the kingdom's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. Khamenei responded positively, saying better ties would benefit both nations and the broader region.