The visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to Saudi Arabia and the significant discussions he held with the kingdom's top officials have opened a new chapter in Tehran-Riyadh relations, which can be viewed from different angles:

1. From a bilateral point of view, the two countries are neighbors and have many capacities for cooperation in the economic, cultural and international fields. If harnessed effectively, especially in the three areas of trade, transit and energy, both countries will surely reap great benefits.

Regarding trade, the exchange of goods and engineering services between Iran and Saudi Arabia, coupled with tourism, particularly in pilgrimage and Hajj, can generate substantial income for both nations.

In the transit sector, Saudi Arabia's aspiration to partner up with East and South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus can be fulfilled through accessible rail and road routes via Iran, fostering increased trade cooperation with countries in these regions.

In the energy domain, both nations' OPEC membership underscores the importance of setting appropriate oil prices and collaborative energy investments.

2. Strengthening relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two influential countries in the Islamic world, has the potential to address numerous challenges faced by Muslims through a united front. The war in Yemen, the crisis in Sudan, the problems of Libya and efforts to liberate Palestinian lands from occupation, can be achieved through cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Beyond solving Islamic world issues, Iran-Saudi friendship can amplify Islamic unity and advance the vision of a new Islamic civilization. The growing ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been positively received across the Islamic world. Only the Israeli regime is wary of this detente. In fact, America and other allies of the Zionist regime are the only forces opposing this favorable development in the Islamic world.

3. In terms of regional relations, Iran and Saudi Arabia's roles could significantly influence regional stability, given a shared interest within the region to ensure regional security by the countries of the Persian Gulf.

Vigilance is required to prevent foreign intervention driven by self-interest. Given Saudi Arabia's expressed desire to help resolve the Ukraine issue, joint cooperation with Iran can positively impact this process. Concurrently, enhancing the strength of multilateralist nations against the unilateralist dominance could be an encouraging outcome of the bilateral relations.

It is imperative for both nations to recognize that their burgeoning friendship faces opposition from certain quarters. Consequently, nurturing these relations becomes essential. The growth of Iran-Saudi Arabia ties extends beyond just national boundaries. Iran hopes that all Islamic countries will back this initiative so that the two regional powerhouses can continue to develop their ties in the interest of the international community and enduring peace.

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