Iran and Saudi Arabia, two major regional powers in the Middle East, are reportedly preparing to hold joint military exercises in the Red Sea.
The Al-Diriyah corvette of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces © EDR
Iran and Saudi Arabia, two major regional powers in the Middle East, are reportedly preparing to hold joint military exercises in the Red Sea.
This development, which has been reported by an Iranian news agency but not yet confirmed by Riyadh, could mark a historic first for the two nations, which have long been rivals in the region.
This potential collaboration comes just over a year after Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties in March 2023 following a seven-year rupture.
The rapprochement, which was brokered by China, marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough, as the two nations had previously supported opposing sides in various regional conflicts. For example, Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen’s pro-government forces, while Iran has provided support to the Houthi rebels.
The announcement of the joint exercises comes against a backdrop of increased tension in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group allied with Iran, have claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in the region, targeting ships they believe to be linked to Israel.
Iran and the United States will hold a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.
Israel has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months despite President Donald Trump telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. was for now unwilling to support such a move, according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter.
In a defiant speech on Friday evening, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, insisted that the group “will not allow anyone to disarm it,” rejecting growing internal calls for the Lebanese state to reclaim exclusive control over the country’s weapons.
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