WANA (Apr 17) – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized the urgent need for unity and cohesion in the Islamic world during a meeting on Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his accompanying delegation.

 

He called for expanding bilateral cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia across all sectors and leveraging shared capacities to resolve regional issues.

 

According to the official website of the Iranian presidency, Pezeshkian highlighted the deep religious, cultural, and historical bonds among Islamic nations and reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering fraternal ties between Muslim countries.

 

“We see you as our brothers,” he said. “From the very beginning of this administration, we have prioritized strengthening brotherly relations among Islamic nations.”

 

The president underscored that unity among Muslim countries is essential for achieving lasting peace, security, and economic development in the region.

 

“It is regrettable that nations that share the same Qibla, holy book, and religion continue to suffer from conflict and poverty in a land blessed with immense resources,” he noted. “This is not befitting of the Islamic Ummah.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. April 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Pezeshkian urged Muslim leaders to set aside differences and enhance regional cooperation. “With shared determination, the leaders of Islamic countries can offer a powerful model of peaceful coexistence, prosperity, and progress for the world,” he said.

 

He affirmed Iran’s readiness to deepen its relationship with Saudi Arabia in all areas and to extend bilateral cooperation to other Islamic nations.

 

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the president stated that a unified and coordinated voice among Muslim nations would prevent the continuation of atrocities like those being committed by the Israeli regime.

 

“If the Islamic countries speak with one voice and act in true solidarity, the Zionist regime would no longer be able to perpetrate the kind of human tragedies we are witnessing today in Gaza,” he said.

 

Pezeshkian also welcomed the formation of joint working groups in various political, economic, and security sectors between Iran and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that the two countries, by relying on their shared strengths and without foreign interference, can resolve many of the region’s challenges.

 

“We hope that the mutual goodwill between our nations will strengthen the collective interests of the Islamic world and deter external actors from sowing division and unrest,” he added.

 

He concluded by highlighting the importance of bilateral dialogue in fostering regional stability and expressed Iran’s readiness to host the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi Crown Prince.

 

For his part, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman expressed satisfaction with his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran and conveyed warm greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He noted that meetings with Iranian officials had been “very positive, constructive, and fruitful.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. April 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Prince Khalid echoed President Pezeshkian’s call for Islamic unity, stating, “You have rightly pointed out the root cause of many of the Islamic world’s issues: the lack of unity and cohesion. Any development in this region, whether positive or negative, inevitably affects all of us.”

 

He emphasized the pivotal roles of Tehran and Riyadh in regional affairs, describing them as “two pillars of the region.” He noted that stronger ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia could serve as a powerful model for unity and cooperation in the Islamic world. “The Beijing Agreement is just the beginning of our collaboration. The potential for our relations goes far beyond that.”

 

Prince Khalid also said Saudi leaders are keen to visit Iran soon. He underlined the aligned positions of Iran and Saudi Arabia on developments in Gaza and Palestine, warning that “the Zionist regime’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria reflect attempts to exploit existing regional gaps.”

 

Concluding his remarks, the Saudi defense minister extended an official invitation on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for President Pezeshkian to make an official visit to Saudi Arabia. He reaffirmed Riyadh’s readiness to expand cooperation with Tehran across all areas.