The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, discussed with his Saudi counterpart, Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili, ways to enhance defensive diplomacy between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran reported on Sunday.

Earlier, the Iranian news agency Tasnim revealed that al-Ruwaili is leading a high-level Saudi military delegation during a visit to Tehran.

Last year, Bagheri held phone discussions with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, focusing on regional developments, boosting defense cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, and addressing key issues within the Islamic world.

This follows the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023, under an agreement brokered by China.

The two countries severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over the execution of cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Riyadh.

In October, Saudi Arabia announced it had conducted joint military exercises with Iran and other nations in the Sea of Oman.

Coinciding with this visit, Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassim Al-Araji will travel to Tehran today, where he is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Additionally, the Secretary of the Human Rights Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazem Gharib Abadi, has traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

It is noteworthy that in late October, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the latest regional developments during a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Faisal Bin Farhan. 

During the call, Araghchi extended his nation's appreciation for Saudi Arabia's firm stance and denunciation of the Israeli attack against Iran, demanding cooperation between all Islamic countries to stop the Israeli crimes in the region, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. 

In response, Bin Farhan reiterated his country's condemnation of the Israeli attack, which violates Iran's sovereignty and breaches its territorial integrity, stressing the need for monumental efforts to prevent the expansion of regional instability. 

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