According to an Iranian source that Riyadh has not confirmed, Iran and Saudi Arabia are planning to undertake joint military drills in the Red Sea. This would be the first time the two regional heavyweights have done so.
In 2016, the two nations—who have historically supported opposite parties in regional crisis zones—broke diplomatic ties.
However, a surprising agreement mediated by China last year marked the resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which has a Sunni majority.
According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Admiral Shahram Irani, the head of Iran’s navy, stated, “Saudi Arabia has asked that we organise joint exercises in the Red Sea.”
He went on to say, “Coordination is underway and delegations from both countries will hold the necessary consultations on how to conduct the exercise,” but he did not elaborate.
