### Iranian President Optimistic About Summit on Israeli Aggression in Gaza and Lebanon

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed confidence that an extraordinary summit organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League will produce significant outcomes to halt Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Pezeshkian shared his optimistic outlook during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday.

The summit, which is set to take place in Riyadh on Monday, aims to address Israel's ongoing hostilities in both Gaza and Lebanon and the broader regional implications. "I am confident that this summit will lead to effective and tangible results, ending the Zionist regime's crimes and the war and bloodshed in Gaza and Lebanon," Pezeshkian remarked.

Although President Pezeshkian will not attend the summit due to his demanding schedule, he has appointed First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref to represent Iran. The Iranian president reiterated his hopes for improved bilateral relations between Tehran and Riyadh, noting the strong resolve from both sides.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also praised this new chapter in Saudi-Iranian relations and expressed optimism about reaching higher levels of cooperation across various fields. He took the opportunity to further invite President Pezeshkian to Saudi Arabia and expressed eagerness to discuss the expansion of relations with the Iranian vice president during the summit.

On the same day, military leaders from Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Tehran to explore the enhancement of defense diplomacy amidst escalating regional tensions. Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri and Saudi Chief of General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili discussed collaborative measures in light of the persistent regional conflict.

In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to restore diplomatic relations through a deal brokered by China, mending ties that had been severed since 2016. Part of their agreement includes implementing a security cooperation pact from 2001 and another accord from 1998 aimed at strengthening collaborations across various sectors.