Iran's security chief Ali Larijani met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his brother, the defense minister, on Tuesday in a rare high-level meeting between regional rivals, following an Israeli attack in Qatar last week.
In Larijani's meeting with the Crown Prince, discussions focused on strategic regional issues and the situation in Islamic countries, with both sides exchanging views on the future of the region.
The meetings come amid heightened regional tensions following an Israeli airstrike in Doha on September 9 which targeted Hamas leaders. Qatar and other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.
Larijani and Bin Salman also explored ways to expand economic cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh, including resolving obstacles facing traders and examining opportunities for joint investments, Iranian official media reported.
Larijani later held a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid Bin Salman, during which both sides discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the defense field as part of broader efforts to consolidate ties between the two countries, according to IRGC-affiliated Fars News.
Following talks with Larijani, Khalid bin Salman said he had reviewed bilateral relations and regional developments.
“In my meeting, we discussed Saudi-Iranian relations and addressed a number of issues of mutual interest, as well as regional developments and efforts to achieve security and stability,” the Kingdom's defense minister said.
Khalid bin Salman in April paid a rare visit to Tehran, where he met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It was the first time Khamenei had received a Saudi official since 2006.
Vahid Yazdanian, who leads the Space Research Center under the Ministry of Communications, told the state-run ILNA news agency that GPS disruptions in Iran stem from the absence of indigenous navigation satellites.
He said Iran currently lacks any navigation satellites, relying instead on foreign systems.
“No global navigation system can be fully secure,” he said. “The ultimate solution is to develop a domestic satellite navigation constellation.”
Yazdanian added that the country needs to build its own infrastructure to secure applications ranging from urban transport to the navigation of trains, ships and aircraft.
He also pointed to broader uses of space technology, saying that Iran’s Earth observation satellites already provide images that help policymakers estimate crop yields and manage water resources.
According to Yazdanian, satellite imagery has allowed the government to monitor wheat, barley, maize and potato production, and to make decisions about imports or domestic procurement.
The comments come as Iran pushes ahead with an ambitious space program. The head of the Iranian Space Agency said earlier this month that Tehran plans to launch four satellites by March 2026 and begin operations at its new spaceport in Chabahar, on the country’s southeastern coast.
Among the planned launches are the Zafar, Paya, and a second model of the Kowsar Earth observation satellite, along with test units of the Soleimani narrowband communications constellation.
Western governments have repeatedly voiced concern that Iran’s satellite program could advance ballistic missile technology. Tehran says its activities are for peaceful purposes, adding the satellites will support civilian applications such as communications, agriculture and environmental monitoring.