Iranian spiritual guide meets with Saudi defense minister
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 5/5/1999

The spiritual guide of the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Tuesday received Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and their positive impact on general conditions in the region and the Islamic world.

The guide of the Iranian revolution stressed the importance of maintaining cooperation between the Islamic states in order to settle problems of the Muslim peoples and communities. He asserted the possibility of benefiting from already-available human and natural resources for the Islamic world in order to improve the condition of Muslims.

He added that strengthening relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia serves the interests of their two peoples. He considered conditions in Kosovo and Palestine and the presence of the foreign forces in the Gulf region as among the key issues that should be highlighted by the two countries.

He indicated that there is hostile propaganda promoted by enemy media to prevent cooperation among the Islamic states.

He also asserted the importance of cooperation between the two countries for the stability in oil prices.

For his part, the Saudi defense minister stressed his country's government and people's keenness to bolster cooperation with Iran in various fields. He added that the objective of cooperation between the two countries is to serve the interests of Muslims.

MENA reported from Tehran that Ayatollah Khamenei condemned upon meeting with the Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz the presence of the western fleets in the Gulf region, a matter which was also condemned by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami.

The Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoted the Iranian president as saying to the Saudi minister that regional problems in Kosovo and Palestine as well as the disturbing presence of foreign fleets in the Gulf region are topics that necessitate cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The visit of Prince Sultan to Iran reflects the closening of cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh following a period of tension since the launch of the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979.

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia in the middle of May, MENA said, in the course of his tour of several Arab states which will also include Syria and Qatar.

Previous Stories:
  Khatami to Prince Sultan: Your visit is a gift for us   (5/4/1999)
  Saudi relations with Iran are not contradictory with US relations   (5/4/1999)
  Saudi minister of defense speaks on military cooperation with Iran   (5/3/1999)

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