Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia can serve as a model for regional cooperation, stressing that the unity of Islamic countries is a prerequisite for achieving peace, security, and sustainable economic development in the region.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and his delegation in Tehran on Thursday evening, hours after the Saudi minister arrived in the Iranian capital to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with Iranian officials.

The Iranian president emphasized the deep religious, cultural, and historical commonalities among Islamic countries, underscoring the necessity of strengthening unity and cohesion in the Islamic world.

“We consider you our brothers, and since the beginning of this government’s tenure, we have made efforts to strengthen fraternal ties among Islamic nations,” Pezeshkian said, adding that if Islamic countries achieve a common language and genuine unity, the Zionist regime will no longer can cause human tragedies like those unfolding in the besieged Gaza Strip nowadays.

He also touched on the importance of setting aside differences and boosting regional cooperation.

“Leaders of Islamic countries can, with a shared will, present an inspiring model of coexistence, prosperity, and progress for other societies. The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to expand its relations with Saudi Arabia in all fields and extend bilateral cooperation to other Islamic countries,” Pezeshkian stressed.

He also hailed the idea of establishing joint working groups in various political, economic, and security areas between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“Iran and Saudi Arabia, by relying on their shared capacities and without foreign interference, can resolve many of the region’s problems. We hope the goodwill that has emerged between the two countries will strengthen the interests of the Islamic world and discourage enemies from interference and sowing discord,” Pezeshkian emphasized.

He also stressed the importance of bilateral dialogue and its constructive role in reinforcing regional stability, expressing Iran’s readiness to host Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, for his part, expressed his delight at visiting Iran and conveyed the warm greetings of his father, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and his brother, the Crown Prince, to Iran’s president.

“Our meetings with officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been very useful, positive, and constructive,” the Saudi defense minister noted.

He emphasized the need for unity and convergence in the Islamic world, stressing that Pezeshkian “rightly pointed to the root cause of the Islamic world’s problems — the lack of unity and cohesion.”

Prince Khalid bin Salman also stressed that any development, whether positive or negative, inevitably affects all countries in the region.

He further highlighted the key role of Tehran and Riyadh in regional dynamics.

“Iran and Saudi Arabia are two main pillars of the region, and strong relations between the two countries can serve as an effective model for convergence and synergy in the Islamic world. The Beijing Agreement marks the beginning of a path of cooperation between the two countries, and the potential of our relations goes far beyond that,” Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized.

Signed in March 2023, the China-mediated Beijing Agreement aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security between Iran and Saudi Arabia under the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.

The Saudi defense minister also noted that Saudi leaders are eager to visit Iran at the earliest opportunity.

“Iran and Saudi Arabia share common positions regarding the developments in Gaza and Palestine, and the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria reveal its attempts to exploit the existing regional gaps,” Prince Khalid bin Salman added.

While stressing the importance of continuing bilateral talks, the Saudi defense minister officially invited Pezeshkian, on behalf of the Saudi King and Crown Prince, for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, affirming the readiness of Saudi officials to expand cooperation in all areas with Iran.