Saudi Arabia, which was engaging in months-long talks with Israel on normalizing relations, has reportedly paused discussions and shifted its focus to making a deal with Iran.
Reuters reported that two sources familiar with the matter said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in an attempt to prevent further escalation in the region. Iran told the Saudi leader that Saudi Arabia would need to prioritize concessions for Palestinians for talks to continue between the two countries, according to one source.
A senior Iranian official said the call with Saudi Arabia, which lasted 45 minutes, was “good and promising,” adding that its goal was to support “Palestine and prevent the spread of war in the region.” The call reportedly was approved by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran-backed Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel last Saturday, killing over 1,300 people and targeting Israeli families, including infants. The Hamas attack came weeks after President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would unfreeze $6 billion for Iran along with Iranian prisoners in exchange for Americans held captive by the Iranian regime.
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