PM Shehbaz arrives in Jeddah on brief visit to Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday as part of an official visit to Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

He is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Upon his arrival at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport, the prime minister was received by Prince Saud bin Mashaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah region.

Officials from the Saudi government and members of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission were also present at the airport to welcome the prime minister.

The visit is expected to include meetings with Saudi leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

The development comes a day after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed his country’s commitment to regional stability, emphasising that Iran has no intention of becoming involved in conflicts with neighbouring nations.

During a telephone conversation initiated by President Pezeshkian with PM Shehbaz, the two leaders discussed the current situation in the region.

According to reports, Pezeshkian cautioned that a failure by the international community to hold those responsible for conflicts accountable could pose serious threats to global security. “If the international community does not focus on those responsible for war, the global system and security could face serious challenges,” he reportedly said.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that it intercepted 33 drones, adding there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks.

Among them was a drone aimed at Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, also thwarted with no material damage or civilian injuries, the ministry’s spokesman said, adding the capital and surrounding areas were targeted by 26 drones.

One drone targeted the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country, according to the Saudi defence ministry.

The UAE said its air defences detected 17 ballistic missiles on Sunday — destroying 16, while one fell into the sea — and intercepted 113 of 117 drones detected, with four falling inside the country.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for Iran to immediately halt its attacks on Gulf states, saying they breach international law and pose a “serious threat to international peace and security.”

The resolution, passed by 13 votes with two abstentions, “demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.”