Saudi, Iranian Defense Leaders Speak for First Time Since Iran Appointed New Chief
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Iran’s newly appointed military chief, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, held a phone call on Sunday—their first known direct communication since Mousavi took office earlier this month. The exchange comes as both countries face heightened regional tensions and seek to manage a fragile diplomatic thaw.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two officials “reviewed bilateral relations in the defense field and discussed regional developments as well as efforts to maintain security and stability.” The call was initiated by Mousavi, signaling a rare high-level outreach between two longtime adversaries.
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Mousavi was appointed chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces on June 13 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His predecessor, Mohammad Bagheri, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that coincided with the start of open hostilities between Israel and Iran that same day.
Although traditionally on opposing sides of Middle East conflicts, Tehran and Riyadh have taken cautious steps toward normalization since agreeing to reestablish diplomatic ties under a China-mediated deal in 2023. That agreement marked the first formal rapprochement between the two powers in years and was seen as a potential stabilizing force across the region.
Sunday’s phone call, though brief in disclosed details, suggests that military channels are now being tested as both nations navigate a volatile strategic environment shaped by war, shifting alliances, and the ongoing fallout of the Israel-Iran confrontation.
