Foreign Ministry: Visit of Defense Minister and Representatives of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement Countries to Tehran Comes to De-escalate Tensions between Parties to Current Crisis, Encourage Dialogue and Diplomatic Solutions

 In continuation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s role in reinforcing regional and international dialogue and peace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the visit of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and representatives of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement countries to the Iranian capital, Tehran, to meet with senior Iranian officials, comes as part of the ongoing efforts of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement countries to de-escalate tensions between the parties to the current crisis, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support the mediation efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
 The Kingdom looks forward to the positive and practical engagement of the parties to the crisis with the outcomes of this visit and with the ongoing efforts of Qatar and Pakistan, in a manner that contributes to resolving the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy. The Kingdom emphasizes the importance of opening channels of negotiation to prevent a return to military escalation in the region and to pave the way for an agreement that ends the crisis and achieves security and peace in the region and the world.
 The Kingdom reiterates the pivotal role of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement countries in consolidating security and stability in the region and working with all countries to ensure peace in the region and the world.