Nournews: Larijani’s first stop in Beirut highlighted the importance of the Axis of Resistance, while also underscoring Iran’s respect for the collective Lebanese decision regarding this movement. In Baghdad, he signed a security pact between Iran and Iraq. Now in Riyadh, he is seeking to open a new pathway for dialogue with one of West Asia’s main regional powers. This sequencing indicates that Tehran aims to shape its multilayered security not solely on military deterrence, but through a combination of politics, economics, and security talks with its neighbors.

His initial trips to Beirut and then Baghdad took place at a time when the region was gripped by the turmoil sparked by Israeli hostilities and U.S. support for them. His presence and consultations with Lebanese officials and influential figures sent a clear message: Iran, while supporting the Resistance and condemning extra-regional interference, also seeks to contribute to stability, independence, and political calm in Lebanon. Tehran knows that Lebanon’s security and independence play a decisive role in the stability of the region, and thus considers Beirut’s security as part of its own.

In the second step, Baghdad hosted Larijani, where the highlight was the signing of a Tehran–Baghdad security agreement. This pact included cooperation in border control, counterterrorism, and preventing the activity of anti-Iranian armed groups inside Iraq. The achievement showed that Tehran, before entering new talks with Saudi Arabia, is consolidating its security foundations in allied states. In other words, Beirut and Baghdad were the first two pillars of Iran’s new security architecture, while Riyadh is the third side of this sensitive triangle.

Choosing Riyadh as the third destination is no coincidence. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been in direct or indirect confrontation with Iran across multiple geopolitical arenas—from Yemen and Syria to Lebanon and Iraq. Yet both countries have realized that turning such confrontations into a prolonged rivalry is detrimental to both sides. The Yemen war has cost Saudi Arabia billions of dollars, while Iran, under sanctions and external pressure, needs to reduce regional tensions in order to focus on economic development.

The timing of Larijani’s trip is also meaningful. Following the 12-day Israel–U.S. war against Iran and Tel Aviv’s airstrike on Doha targeting Hamas leaders, the political temperature in the region has reached its peak. His trip to Riyadh signals a joint attempt to find ways to curb Israel’s unbridled terrorist behavior. Furthermore, managing the global energy market after recent Middle East developments requires closer consultations between Tehran and Riyadh, as two major energy suppliers. At the same time, as talks between Iran and the Western bloc over the nuclear file reach a critical stage and the European troika considers triggering the snapback mechanism, direct engagement between Tehran and Riyadh has become more essential than ever.

Hard Security Alongside Soft Security
A key point in Larijani’s trip to Riyadh is his scheduled meeting with the Saudi defense minister. This indicates that Tehran’s agenda is not limited to soft security (political and economic), but also includes hard, military security. Iran and Saudi Arabia are the two major military powers in the Persian Gulf. In past years, arms races, disputes over maritime security, and the Yemen war generated deep mistrust between them. Security–defense dialogue could be an important step toward reducing these suspicions and accelerating the opening of a new chapter in their relations.

Since the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023—achieved through the efforts of Admiral Ali Shamkhani—the groundwork has been laid to activate various channels of communication in economic, political, military, and security spheres. Larijani’s trip is significant in this respect, as it reflects Tehran’s pursuit of multilayered security: one that is simultaneously advanced through economics, politics, and military cooperation.

Nevertheless, global realities must also be acknowledged. Saudi Arabia’s ties with the United States remain close and warm. Washington has long been the guarantor of Saudi security, making it natural that any rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh will be met with sensitivity, and perhaps opposition, from Washington. This means that ensuring the durability of any potential agreements will be vital.

The second factor is Israel. In recent years, Tel Aviv has tried to deepen the rift between Iran and Arab neighbors by expanding security and military ties with Persian Gulf Arab states. Israel openly opposes any rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh, and seeks to obstruct it through political and security pressure. Yet Israel’s unrestrained violence and state terrorism—especially after the October 7 events and the genocide in Gaza—have pushed Saudi Arabia further from Tel Aviv and weakened the possibility of prior agreements between them. Even so, these two external factors could still influence the trajectory of future Iran–Saudi cooperation.

Toward a New Regional Security Architecture
Despite these obstacles, Larijani’s trip to Riyadh marks a turning point. It signals Iran’s effort to move beyond being defined solely by wars and crises, toward creating a new multilayered security architecture for the Middle East—one in which politics, economics, and military security complement one another. It also reflects Tehran’s emphasis on regional security built from within, rather than dependency on outside powers. If successful, this could herald a new era in Iran–Saudi relations and in the Middle East more broadly—an era where rivalry gives way to managing differences and fostering cooperation in shared areas.

Larijani’s trips—from Beirut to Baghdad, and now Riyadh—paint a clear picture of Iran’s new regional security strategy. This approach gives special attention to strengthening ties not only with allies and neighbors, but even with rivals. The presence of economic, political, and military files on the agenda shows that Tehran is pursuing a sustainable, multilayered form of security.

Still, the Riyadh test will be a tough one. The warmth of Riyadh–Washington ties and Israel’s attempts to sabotage the process remain serious threats. Yet the very continuation of talks at this level is itself a major achievement for Iran. It carries the key message that Tehran no longer wants to be defined solely through force or crises, but seeks to rewrite Middle Eastern security through dialogue, politics, and even military negotiation.