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.
The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions on Thursday targeting global networks supporting Mahan Air, the Iranian carrier Washington says transports Iran's Revolutionary Guards personnel, as well as weapons and drones.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia this week from Iraqi territory in coordination with Iraqi armed groups, according to assessments by Saudi Arabia and regional partners, reflecting growing coordination among Iran-aligned militias, two officials in the region said.
Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, three sources familiar with the deal told Reuters, as it rebuilds its defences amid war with the United States.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.