An Iranian government plane, which usually carries the defense minister or the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, landed in the Saudi capital Riyadh around midday Tuesday, according to Abu Ali Express. The purpose of the visit and the identity of the passengers aboard have not been reported.
An Iranian government aircraft — a type routinely used to transport the defense minister or the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council — touched down in Riyadh around midday Tuesday, and was later identified as carrying Iran's Minister of Science, Hossein Sima'i Saraf, according to reports cited by The Zioneer. The minister arrived to attend the UNESCO AI summit in the Saudi capital, N12's Asaf Rozentzweig reported. The flight was first flagged by the Abu Ali Express outlet, which reported that the plane had entered Saudi airspace, speculating it might be carrying a senior delegation seeking de-escalation with the Houthis in Yemen. Shortly thereafter, i24NEWS's Amichai Stein confirmed the aircraft had landed, though the purpose and passengers remained unclear at the time. The identification of the science minister later provided clarity on the delegation's nature.
The series of reports unfolded around 10:54 a.m. Jerusalem time on Tuesday. While initial speculation centered on potential security-related talks, the eventual confirmation pointed to an academic-scientific mission. The plane's typical association with Iran's top security officials had fueled speculation, but the passenger manifest appears aligned with the publicly stated purpose of the visit.
The landing marks another instance of direct Iranian travel to Saudi soil amid ongoing but intermittent diplomatic contacts between the two regional powers. As The Zioneer reported on June 23, senior Iranian officials met with Oman's Sultan Haitham in Muscat, part of a broader regional diplomatic push. Iranian government aircraft have also been used for visits to Iraq and Qatar in recent months, including a flight to Baghdad on July 12 and a flight to Doha on July 15, as The Zioneer documented.
No official confirmation has been issued by Saudi or Iranian authorities regarding the flight or the minister's visit. The specific details of the minister's schedule in Riyadh remain undisclosed.
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