Health ministers from Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen bilateral ties through expanded health cooperation, scientific exchange, and joint investment in pharmaceuticals and medical infrastructure.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh, where Iran’s Health Minister Mohammadreza Zafarqandi met with his Saudi counterpart, Fahad Abdulrahman al-Jalajel, on Tuesday.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the pace of growing interactions in the health sector and emphasized the need to build on this momentum. The ministers stressed enhancing collaboration in scientific, academic, research, and educational fields.

What do Iranian-Saudi health cooperation plans include?

• Exchange programs for university professors and students.
• Organization of joint congresses and specialized conferences.
• Strengthening ties between Iranian and Saudi medical universities.

The ministers also underlined the importance of joint investments in areas such as pharmaceutical production, medical equipment, and broader health infrastructure development.

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Draft agreement and diplomatic engagement

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed a draft memorandum of understanding on health cooperation and agreed to expedite its finalization. Zafarqandi also extended a formal invitation to al-Jalajel to visit Tehran, signaling a mutual interest in reinforcing health diplomacy and continuing high-level dialogue.

Zafarqandi is leading a senior Iranian delegation comprised of officials from the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors. Their visit coincides with the 8th Global Health Exhibition, a key event for international health sector collaboration, taking place in the Saudi capital.

The renewed health sector engagement builds directly on earlier high-level talks between Iranian and Saudi leaders aimed at restoring relations. By expanding collaboration in medical education, scientific exchange, and joint investment in pharmaceuticals and health infrastructure, the two countries are translating diplomatic agreements into concrete, practical outcomes.

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