Saudi crown prince urges Israel to respect Iran's sovereignty at Arab summit

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman has urged Israel to honor Iran's sovereignty and avoid any aggression towards Iranian territory, signaling a positive shift in relations between these two Middle Eastern nations.

Mohammed bin Salman emphasized at a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders the importance of the international community ensuring that Israel respects the sovereignty of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran and refrains from violating its territories.

Saudi Arabia and Iran frequently have conflicting positions in regional disputes, including those in Syria.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia formed a military coalition to aid Yemen's internationally recognized government following the capture of the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis, who were also advancing towards the key southern city of Aden.

In the subsequent year, Riyadh and Tehran cut off relations after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were targeted during protests against Riyadh's execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

In March of 2023, a reconciliation agreement facilitated by China was announced.

Despite the remaining challenges in their intricate relationship, the reconciliation marks a significant diplomatic success for Prince Mohammed, who has adopted a more cooperative stance towards regional diplomacy lately.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been in close communication at high levels in an attempt to manage the conflict that arose in Gaza after Hamas carried out a significant attack on southern Israel on October 7 of the previous year.

This diplomatic initiative resulted in the initial phone conversation between Prince Mohammed and Iran's former president, Ebrahim Raisi, just a brief five days following the commencement of the conflict. Additionally, it paved the way for Raisi's visit to Riyadh one year ago to attend a collaborative summit of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.