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 U.S. imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said.
The Pentagon said on Wednesday that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed several deals and memos of understanding worth around $27 billion between private sector institutions in several fields including clean energy and petrochemicals, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.
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