Iran’s president visits Saudi Arabia for the primary time for the reason that two mended ties.

President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for a summit on the conflict in Gaza, his first go to for the reason that regional rivals agreed early this yr to revive diplomatic ties after years of hostility.

Saudi Arabia had initially scheduled two summits over this weekend, one for members of the Group of Islamic Cooperation and the second for the Arab League. However they have been mixed into one occasion on Saturday. Representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq have been additionally anticipated to attend.

The leaders, who fear that the unrest will spill throughout the area, are anticipated to name for an instantaneous cease-fire in Gaza and the supply of extra desperately wanted humanitarian assist, in addition to a restart to peace talks for an enduring answer.

The conflict was set off by an Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel by Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that controls Gaza, which killed roughly 1,200 folks, in response to Israeli officers. Israel has since bombarded Gaza with 1000’s of airstrikes, laid siege to the territory by slicing off water, meals, gasoline and different primary requirements, and launched a floor invasion. The conflict has killed greater than 10,000 Palestinians, lots of them youngsters and girls, in response to the Gaza well being ministry.

Mr. Raisi’s journey follows a big pivot in March, when Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reopen embassies in one another’s nations and to revive a safety pact in a deal brokered by China.

The rivalry for dominance between the 2 Center Japanese powers has lengthy formed regional politics and commerce. It has predominantly performed out by way of proxy conflicts in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, the place Iran has supported militias that Saudi officers say have destabilized the area.

Mr. Raisi was anticipated to handle the Saudi summit, and met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on the sidelines, the Iranian state information media reported.