According to the sources, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman made an unexpected visit to Iran to discuss a ceasefire with the Houthis. The primary objective of the talks was to persuade the group to stop its attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The sources claimed that Saudi Arabia would offer $1 billion to the Houthis through Iran under the proposed arrangement. They further alleged that Prince Khalid bin Salman brought the money to Tehran aboard a Hercules military transport aircraft. However, no Saudi official has confirmed that any such financial transaction took place.
The talks are taking place as the Houthis continue to target Saudi oil facilities. The Saudi defence minister's visit was organised by Saudi Arabia's partners in the Mecca defence agreement. Turkey's intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, and Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, are also participating in the discussions.
Iran has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the visit by Prince Khalid bin Salman and representatives of member countries of the Mecca Joint Defence Alliance was intended to reduce tensions in the region. However, Saudi authorities have not confirmed whether any money has been transferred.
An official also said that the dispute with the Houthis is partly linked to the implementation of agreements reached three years ago. Under those arrangements, Saudi Arabia was supposed to provide direct financial assistance to the Houthis. The money was intended to pay government employees in areas under Houthi control and support the reconstruction of civilian facilities and infrastructure.
In return, the Houthis were expected to honour the ceasefire and stop attacks on Saudi Arabia. In recent months, the group has justified its attacks by claiming that Saudi Arabia has backed away from those commitments.
Meanwhile, Iran is explicitly seeking to escalate the current tensions as part of its ongoing conflict with the United States, according to the account provided. Tehran is supplying weapons to the Houthis and supporting the group through other means.
The meeting in Tehran also represents a public relations setback for Saudi Arabia. The reported negotiations suggest that Riyadh may be prepared to make concessions in an effort to restore its oil exports fully and as quickly as possible. However, the reported $1 billion offer remains unconfirmed by Saudi officials, leaving the details of any potential financial arrangement unclear.
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