Priya Aditi
Wednesday marked the first talk on telephone conversation between Iran President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to resume relations was mediated by China.
As Israel conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly assault by Palestinian Hamas militants in Israel, the two leaders issued a joint statement.
The Saudi crown prince and Raisi discussed the “need to end war crimes against Palestine,” according to Iranian state media.
According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, the crown prince “affirmed that the Kingdom is making every effort to communicate with all international and regional parties in an effort to halt the ongoing escalation.”
Additionally, he reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s stance against any form of targeting of civilians, according to SPA.
China mediated an agreement in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations, following seven years of animosity that had impeded stability and security in the Gulf and contributed to the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, including Syria and Yemen.
A senior US State Department official responded that Washington, which vehemently supports Israel in its battle against Hamas, was in “constant contact with Saudi leaders” when asked about Raisi’s conversation with the crown prince.
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The official further stated that the United States was requesting its allies with channels or ties to Hezbollah of Lebanon, Hamas, Iran, or Hezbollah of Lebanon to “extend Hamas’ ceasefire, release hostages, prevent Hezbollah from intervening, and exclude Iran from the conflict.”
