Politics
Full support for Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, chaired the Cabinet meeting held in Jeddah. At the beginning of the meeting,
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, chaired the Cabinet meeting held in Jeddah.
At the beginning of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the content of the message received by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz from the President of the State of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, and on the content of his meeting with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
The Council discussed the results of the Crown Prince’s talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which included the emphasis on the Kingdom’s keenness and support for international efforts aimed at finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine leading to lasting peace, in addition to the two countries praising the strength of economic ties, and welcoming the re-establishment of the Joint Business Council during the current year 2025.
The Council welcomed the start of talks between the United States of America and Ukraine, which are being hosted by the Kingdom as part of its efforts to end the crisis, especially in light of its balanced relations with various parties, its leading role in promoting global security and peace, and establishing dialogue as the most successful means to resolve conflicts and bring viewpoints closer.
The Cabinet praised the measures taken by the Syrian leadership to preserve civil peace in the country and to complete the process of building state institutions, in order to achieve security and stability and to meet the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people, reiterating the Kingdom’s full support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Complete rejection of calls to displace Palestinians
Minister of Information Salman Al-Dossari explained in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet then reviewed all the regional and international meetings that were held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in an effort to consolidate the foundations of cooperation and partnership and enhance consultation and coordination to confront the current challenges in the region.
In this context, the Council expressed its appreciation for the contents of the statement issued by the extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stressing the complete rejection of calls to displace the Palestinian people from their land, and affirming the Kingdom’s continued work with sisterly and friendly countries to advance the implementation of the two-state solution.
Thanks to the nation's leading scholars for appreciating the Kingdom's role
The Cabinet expressed its gratitude to the senior scholars and thinkers of the Islamic nation for the noble sentiments they expressed towards the Kingdom during the international conference held in Makkah under the title “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” and for their appreciation of its pioneering role in serving Islam and Muslims, and its efforts to support solidarity and unity of ranks and word.
The Council affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness to strengthen partnerships with international organizations in various fields, including its presidency of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, continuing its achievements in this area at the local, regional and global levels.
"Flag Day" is a source of pride in the history of the Saudi state
On the domestic front, the Cabinet considered the celebration of “Flag Day” as an affirmation of pride in its value that extends throughout the history of the Saudi state since its founding, and in its great connotations that embody the firm principles of this generous nation.
He explained that the council noted what the national campaign for charitable work embodied in terms of the deep-rooted values of benevolence, giving, and solidarity in the culture of Saudi society, pointing in this context to the great care and attention that the state gives to this pioneering sector.
The Council addressed the positive growth rates achieved by economic activities during 2024, reflecting the success of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs and the progress made in major projects and national strategies.
decisions
The Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, including topics that the Shura Council had participated in studying. It also reviewed the conclusions reached by the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the Council of Economic Affairs and Development, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Council of Experts regarding these topics. The Cabinet concluded the following:
• Authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Fahd National Library – or his representative – to discuss with the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf the draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of knowledge and publishing between the King Fahd National Library in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and to sign it.
• Authorizing the Minister of Sports – or his representative – to discuss with the Arab Organization for Administrative Development the draft memorandum of understanding in the field of training between the Ministry of Sports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Organization for Administrative Development, and to sign it.
• Authorizing the Minister of Interior – or his representative – to discuss with the Vietnamese side the draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the field of transferring persons sentenced to penalties depriving them of their liberty, and to sign it.
• Authorizing the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or his representative – to discuss with the Salvadoran side the draft memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of El Salvador, and to sign it.
• Authorizing the Minister of Justice – or his representative – to discuss with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime the draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and to sign it.
• Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Tunisia for cooperation in the field of promoting direct investment.
• Authorizing the Minister of Investment – or his representative – to sign the draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to encourage and protect investment.
• Authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Authority – or his representative – to discuss with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) the draft Memorandum of Understanding in the field of cybersecurity between the National Cybersecurity Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the office affiliated with UNITAR, and to sign it.
• Approval of an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
• Authorizing the Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority – or his representative – to sign the draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
• Authorizing the President of the General Auditing Bureau – or his representative – to discuss with the Turkish and Korean sides the two draft memoranda of understanding between the General Auditing Bureau in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and each of the Court of Accounts in the Republic of Turkey and the Board of Audit and Inspection in the Republic of Korea, for cooperation in the field of accounting, auditing and professional work, and to sign them.
• Approval of a memorandum of cooperation between the Public Prosecution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Prosecutor General's Office in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
• Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Center for Accreditation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Center for Accreditation in the Republic of Kazakhstan for cooperation in the field of accreditation.
Appointments and Promotions
• Approval to renew the membership of Dr. Saadoun bin Saad Al-Saadoun, Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Juwair, Saeed bin Ahmed Basmah, and Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al Muqrin, on the Board of Directors of the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector, and the appointment of Prince Waleed bin Nasser bin Fahd bin Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Dr. Badr bin Hamoud Al-Badr, and Dr. Fahd bin Ali Al-Olayan, as members of the Board of Directors of the Center.
• Approval of promotions to the (fifteenth) and (fourteenth) ranks, as follows:
• Dr. Awad bin Sabti bin Munadi Al-Ruba’i Al-Anzi was promoted to the position of (Senior Religious Research Advisor) at the (fifteenth) rank in the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
• Promoting Musfir bin Saeed bin Musfir Al Fayez Al Shamrani to the position of (General Manager) at the (fourteenth) rank in the General Directorate of Border Guards.
• Saad bin Rashid bin Mohammed Al Abdullah Al Tamimi was promoted to the position of (Director General) at the (fourteenth) rank in the Royal Guard Presidency.
The Cabinet also reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including annual reports from the General Authority for Media Regulation, the Saudi Fund for Development, the Saudi Export-Import Bank, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank. The Cabinet took the necessary action regarding these topics.
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Iranian Assembly of Experts destroyed in Qom by Israeli airstrike
A video documents the destruction of the Assembly of Experts building in Qom by an Israeli airstrike during the selection of the Supreme Leader, amidst shelling that targeted the Presidential Palace and the National Security Council in Tehran.
In an unprecedented military and political development, a widely circulated video documented the moment the Israeli army destroyed the Assembly of Experts building in the holy city of Qom (south of the Iranian capital, Tehran). This violent airstrike came at a highly sensitive time, as the building was hosting a crucial meeting to choose a new Supreme Leader for the Islamic Republic, thus giving this attack serious strategic implications.
Details of the attack and expansion of the circle of fire
Footage showed a massive explosion that leveled the building, indicating the use of highly destructive bombs. The Israeli attack was not limited to Qom; the Israeli military intensified its strikes to include decision-making centers in the capital, Tehran, officially announcing the targeting of the Iranian presidential palace and the Supreme National Security Council building, a clear indication that the confrontation had escalated to a stage of directly targeting symbols of sovereignty and the regime.
What is a Leadership Experts Council?
To understand the gravity of this event, one must consider the paramount importance of the targeted building. The Assembly of Experts is one of the most important pillars of Iran's political and religious system. It comprises 88 members, all senior clerics and religious scholars, elected by direct popular vote for eight-year terms. The Assembly's primary constitutional function is to appoint the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, oversee his performance, and even remove him if he loses the qualifications for leadership. Therefore, targeting the Assembly while it was in session to choose a successor to the Supreme Leader was an attempt to undermine the mechanism of power transfer at the highest levels of the Iranian regime.
Implications of targeting the city of Qom
The airstrikes on Qom carry profound symbolic significance that transcends mere material damage. Qom is considered the religious capital of Iran and a stronghold of the seminaries that have produced the regime's top leaders. Bringing the battle to the heart of this city and targeting the institution responsible for safeguarding the rule of the Supreme Leader signifies a radical shift in Israel's target bank, which has historically focused on nuclear facilities or Revolutionary Guard military bases.
Regional and international repercussions
This escalation places the entire region on the brink of a volcano, as this attack is expected to have far-reaching repercussions for regional security. Targeting sovereign institutions of this magnitude could push Tehran toward unconventional responses, increasing the risk of the Middle East sliding into an open and comprehensive confrontation that transcends the rules of engagement that have prevailed for many years.
Politics
Khamenei's succession crisis: Iran enters the unknown and its proxies flounder
Iran faces its most serious political crisis with the absence of a successor to the Supreme Leader. This report analyzes the implications of this leadership vacuum on the stability of the regime and the actions of its regional proxies amidst the escalating tensions.
Iran is entering the most dangerous political and security juncture in its history, at a critical moment where an internal leadership crisis intertwines with multiple regional conflicts. The situation is rapidly escalating, and the world is watching closely to see what unfolds in Tehran. The country appears to be operating with a fragmented structure lacking a clear center of power, foreshadowing serious geopolitical repercussions.
Succession crisis and constitutional ambiguity
Following reports of the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the regime has yet to announce a formal successor, despite the passage of sufficient time that should have allowed for a resolution through established constitutional mechanisms. Historically, the Iranian regime relies on the Assembly of Experts to select the Supreme Leader, the body constitutionally empowered to appoint or dismiss him. However, the current complexities point to a deep power struggle within the corridors of power, a stark contrast to the smooth transition that occurred in 1989 after Khomeini's death and Khamenei's ascension to the throne.
Lack of centralization and its impact on the system
While it is true that a temporary council was formed to manage certain tasks, and several names were floated behind closed doors, the public absence of a clear leader reflects a confusion that goes beyond mere protocol to the very core of the power structure. Iran is not a state of traditional institutions; rather, it is a system fundamentally based on the central authority of the "Supreme Leader," who controls the levers of power within the Revolutionary Guard, the army, and the judiciary. The absence of this figurehead creates a vacuum that temporary councils cannot fill, thus opening the door for the Revolutionary Guard to consolidate its political influence to an unprecedented degree.
The regional arms are floundering and the risks of escalation
Regionally, the picture is even more complex. The Iranian-backed armed factions in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria (the so-called "axis of resistance") rely on strategic guidance and direct funding from Tehran. In the absence of a central command structure, these proxies have begun to operate without a central authority, increasing the likelihood of military miscalculations or being drawn into ill-conceived confrontations with Israel or the United States. The lack of a coordinating force to guide these fronts could transform the region into a scene of complete chaos, where each faction acts according to its own narrow, local interests, detached from a unified Iranian strategy.
Politics
Trump to Iran: It's too late to negotiate after your military capabilities have been destroyed
Donald Trump refuses to negotiate with Iran, vowing to destroy its air and naval defenses, amid a large-scale US-Israeli military escalation and fears of open war.
In an unprecedented escalation of the military and political situation, US President Donald Trump announced his categorical rejection of any attempts at negotiation from the Iranian side at the present time, stressing that these calls came too late after Tehran lost the pillars of its strategic military power.
In a fiery statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump asserted that the Iranian regime is now attempting to salvage its lifeline through diplomacy, but that it is too late. He wrote bluntly: "The Iranians have lost their air defenses, their air force, their navy, and their leaders... and then they wanted to negotiate. I said: It's too late." These remarks come as the United States, in close coordination with Israel, continues its intensive military operations, which appear to have achieved broad strategic objectives.
Context of the conflict and historical background
This dramatic development cannot be separated from a long history of tension between Washington and Tehran. Relations between the two countries have long been governed by the “maximum pressure” policy previously pursued by Trump, which focused on crippling the Iranian economy and isolating it diplomatically. Analysts suggest that the current strikes are the culmination of a long history of disputes over regional influence, the ballistic missile program, and the thorny issue of the nuclear program.
President Trump, who authorized the airstrikes in direct coordination with Israel on Saturday, had initially estimated the operations would last four to five weeks. However, developments on the ground and the administration's efforts to justify a full-scale war have shifted the focus toward an open-ended confrontation aimed at completely neutralizing the Iranian threat.
Military and nuclear dimensions
In justifying the massive attack, Trump focused on Iran's relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, an accusation Tehran has consistently denied, maintaining that its program is peaceful. Nevertheless, Washington and Tel Aviv consider Iran's acquisition of a nuclear bomb a red line that cannot be crossed, which explains the ferocity of the attacks targeting military infrastructure.
Trump's talk of destroying Iran's navy and air defenses carries serious strategic implications. Iran relies heavily on its naval power in the Strait of Hormuz to threaten to close global oil shipping lanes, and on its air defenses to protect its nuclear facilities. According to Trump's statements, neutralizing these capabilities would deprive Iran of its most important bargaining chips, making its calls for negotiations now appear as an attempt at surrender rather than an attempt at equal dialogue.
Expected regional repercussions
This escalation is expected to cast a long shadow over the entire Middle East. The absence of Iranian defensive capabilities could fundamentally alter the balance of power in the region and reshape security and political alliances. Furthermore, a protracted war could lead to instability in global energy markets, presenting the international community with complex economic and security challenges in the coming period.
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