Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan traveled to Moscow, the capital of Russia, on Tuesday for an official visit focused on relations between Riyadh and Moscow and developments in the Middle East. He is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the visit.
Bin Farhan and Lavrov are expected to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the talks will also cover regional security, energy, nuclear cooperation and joint cultural activities.
Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on the agenda
Riyadh and Moscow argue that tensions in the Gulf must be prevented from escalating. The two countries also want freedom of navigation restored in the Strait of Hormuz, which is strategically important for energy and commercial shipments.
These issues are on the agenda amid disputes between the United States and Iran over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and a deadlock in the negotiation process.
Oil prices and Iran-Arab relations
The Russian Foreign Ministry said oil prices were expected to rise sharply if tensions continued. The ministry noted that Saudi Arabia and Russia could play a constructive role in this regard because both countries are members of OPEC+.
The talks are also expected to address activating a collective security framework and comprehensively normalizing relations between Iran and Arab countries.
The Saudi and Russian foreign ministries did not provide information on the duration of the visit in their statements.
Iranian authorities said that more than 3,000 people had been killed in US and Israeli attacks that began on February 28. Americans and Israelis were killed in Iran's retaliatory attacks, while Iran targeted US military facilities and equipment in Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.
