After the Houthis' unusual attack: Iranian minister lands in Saudi Arabia

Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology landed in Riyadh for an official visit, two days after Houthis fired a missile toward Saudi Arabia, triggering sirens in Jeddah, Taif, and Mecca. The visit is intended for participation in the UNESCO forum on ethics in artificial intelligence, and takes place against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology landed today (Tuesday) in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, for an official visit. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim. The visit is intended for participation in the fourth UNESCO World Forum on Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, during which the minister will hold meetings with officials from other participating countries. The visit comes against a backdrop of growing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, just hours after the Houthis, a terrorist organization supported by Iran, fired a missile toward Saudi Arabia. Sirens were activated in the cities of Jeddah, Taif, and even Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. The unusual timing of the visit, immediately after the attack, raises questions about the depth of the relationship between Tehran and Riyadh and whether this is an attempt to ease tensions or rather a show of force by Iran.