Trump visit lifts a delicate but developing Saudi-Iranian relationship

President Donald Trump's top-class journey to Saudi Arabia has again drawn attention to the often stressed relationship between the most important heavyweights in the Middle East: Sunni Saudi Arabia and his Shiite rival Iran.

While Trump's journey may not fundamentally shift the course of Iranian relationships, this underlines how central its developing dynamics in the future of the region, especially if the nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington develop further.

On Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan underlined the importance of US Iran's nuclear talks and said the kingdom supports her completely and hopes for a positive result.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Saudi Arabia on Saturday before the fourth talks to inform them about the latest developments. He said that last Wednesday Tehran is looking for a regional consensus about the conversations And every potential business.

Rivalry and diplomatic tension

The two regional power plants have long been competent in the Middle East. Its rivalry has been held in a series of Proxy conflicts in the past two decades – from Iraq and Bahrain to Syria and Yemen – where the two sides supported opposing factions.

One of the acute flash points came in 2015 when Riyadh started a military campaign in Yemen against the Houthi rebels supported by Iran. Although Tehran always contested direct military participation, it was widely accused of having delivered weapons and political support.

Relationships continued in 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shiite spiritual Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The move triggered violent protests and attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, which caused diplomatic bonds to drain into Riyadh. This was one of the lowest points in bilateral relationships for decades.

Aramco attack

A drone and rocket attack in September 2019 on the state-owned Saudi Aramco oil center, in which around five percent of global oil supply has been disturbing one of the most important escalations in the relationships between Tehran-Riyadh in recent years.

Although the Houthis asserted responsibility and Iran denied any commitment, the sophistication of the weapons used in the attacks not only Riad and Washington, but also the European powers to blame Iran directly.

After years of direct and indirect confrontation with Tehran, Riad seemed to change gradually after the attack on his economic lifeline and to pave the way for relaxation.

Signs of a diplomatic thaw

In recent years, a careful thaw in relationships has been recorded. After the introduction of direct talks in April 2021, a breakthrough occurred in 2023 with Chinese conversations that led to the restoration of diplomatic relationships. Since then, both sides have temporarily examined the cooperation and reinforcement, even if there is a deep distrust.

From the beginning of 2025 until now Iranian and Saudi officials held several high -ranking meetings.

Saudi Arabia reports also positioned as a backchannel mediator Between Iran and the United States in nuclear discussions in recent months.

The latest diplomatic engagements

The diplomatic dynamics got the pace in October 2024 when the newly appointed Araghchi Riyadh visited and met with the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Foreign Minister in growing the growing conflict of Gaza strip.

A few weeks later the Saudi crown prince Call to Israel to set all enemy actions in the Iranian area Many surprised.

Further dynamics came in April Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman visited Tehran rarelydelivers a letter from King Salman bin Abdulaziz to the highest leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A few days before a further round of the nuclear discussions of Tehran-Washington undercut, the timing-only the possible diplomatic participation of Saudi Arabia.

Araghchi returned to Riad on May 10th before the fourth and last round of the nuclear talks in Doha. Iranian media reported That he provided an answer to the letter from the Saudi king and thus continued an unprecedented backchannel of direct communication.

On a regional core consortium?

During Trump's meeting in Riad, the possibility of a civilian nuclear agreement between the USA and Saudi Arabia was reported.

Iran is accepted in one of the most fascinating diplomatic moves from 2025 proposed the creation of a regional uranium -enrichment consortium with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The initiative, which was not officially confirmed by Tehran or Riad, could have been classified as a building structure in order to calm the West about the nuclear intentions of Iran, while regional powers and the United States embedded it in a common framework.

Saudi Arabia, who has long started developing his own civilian nuclear skills, can see such a proposal as an opportunity to influence regional nuclear policy and at the same time maintain the activities of Iran. However, considerable technical and political obstacles would have to be overcome.