Riyadh: Attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia are continuing. The Houthis, supported by Iran, have been targeting Saudi Arabia repeatedly. According to sources in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman made a sudden visit to Iran to negotiate a ceasefire with the Houthis. The visit was made with the intention of stopping the Houthi attacks.
According to sources, under this deal, Saudi Arabia will offer $1 billion to the Houthis through Iran. The Saudi Defense Minister carried the amount to Tehran in a military transport plane named ‘Hercules’. But no Saudi official has confirmed this kind of transaction.
The timing of the Saudi Arabian defense ministers’ visit to Iran is important. The Houthi rebels in Yemen have been consistently targeting Saudi Arabia’s mineral oil projects. Saudi Arabia’s economy depends heavily on mineral oil. While Iran has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthi rebels have gained dominance in the Bab al-Mandeb area from Yemen. As a result, the transportation of mineral oil from Saudi Arabia has faced difficulties.
The Saudi defense ministers’ Iran visit was organized by Saudi Arabian partners under the Mecca Security Agreement. During this dialogue, Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir were present. Even though this agreement exists, Pakistan and Turkey haven’t been able to provide much help to Saudi Arabia. They only sent their military advisors. But no additional troops were dispatched for support. There is an important provision in the Mecca Agreement. If any country that is part of this agreement is attacked, the other countries involved in the agreement are obliged to help them.
Iran has proposed mediating between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has shared information about this. Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and representatives of the member countries of the Makkah Joint Defense Front are trying to reduce tensions in the region. Saudi officials have not shared any information on whether the Houthis have been given any money.
