Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, left, with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. AFP
Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, left, with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. AFP
Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, left, with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. AFP
Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, left, with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. AFP

Saudi Defence Minister visits Iran for talks


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Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman handed a "written message" from King Salman to Iran's supreme leader on a rare visit to Tehran on Thursday, Saudi state media reported.

The Saudi Press Agency said Prince Khalid's trip to Iran included “a number of meetings to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of common interest”. Iran’s joint chief of staff, Gen Mohammad Bagheri, greeted the prince on his arrival and an honour guard played for the two men.

Later, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted on X that he received a message from King Salman delivered by Prince Khalid during the meeting. "We believe that relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia are beneficial for both countries and that the two countries can add to each other," Mr Khamenei said, according to official media.

He added that "there are some who show enmity to the expansion of relations" between Iran and Saudi Arabia and that "we must overcome their hostile motives, and we are prepared in this regard". He said it was much better for countries in the region to co-operate.

Prince Khalid, a fighter pilot, is the first Saudi defence minister to visit Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He also the highest-ranking Saudi royal to visit in decades. The last was King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who did so as crown prince in 1997 for an Organisation of Islamic Co-operation meeting held in Tehran.

The latest visit is significant, particularly given the decades of enmity between the countries. Relations have thawed since a 2023 agreement mediated by China, amid efforts to secure peace in Yemen, where Houthi rebels have threatened both Saudi Arabia and the UAE despite US air strikes.

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

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Updated: April 18, 2025, 4:54 AM`