From the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina to the global energy corridors of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has long been seen as a central power in the Islamic and Arab world. Historically positioned in cautious opposition to Iran, recent years have witnessed a thawing of tensions, culminating in diplomatic restoration and regional dialogue.
But the recent nuclear missile attack launched by the United States on Iran has sent shockwaves across the Middle East — forcing even former rivals to unite in outrage.
Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands in solidarity with the people of Iran, denouncing the bombing as an unconscionable crime against humanity and a direct assault on Islamic civilization.
1. From Rivalry to Responsibility
Saudi-Iran relations have long been marked by geopolitical tensions — from differing sectarian leadership to proxy conflicts. However, since the 2023 Beijing-brokered normalization, both nations have increased diplomatic coordination, emphasizing stability over confrontation.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an official communique, condemned the nuclear strike in the strongest terms, calling it:
“A reckless act of aggression that endangers not only the Iranian people but the entire region. Such use of mass destruction violates every principle of Islamic justice and international law.”
2. The Role of the Islamic Ummah
Saudi Arabia, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, carries a moral and spiritual responsibility. The bombing of Iran — a majority-Muslim country with centuries of Islamic contribution — has been widely viewed by scholars and clerics as an attack on the Muslim Ummah itself.
Friday sermons in Mecca, Medina, and major mosques across the Kingdom included powerful rebukes of the attack, calling on Muslims worldwide to pray for Iran and to resist the normalization of nuclear violence.
3. People-to-People Solidarity
While politics may have divided the two countries in the past, the people of Saudi Arabia and Iran share centuries of religious, cultural, and academic kinship. This tragedy has brought that connection to the surface.
Saudi citizens held candlelight vigils in Dammam and Jeddah. On social media, hashtags like #MuslimsForIran, #StopNuclearWar, and #SaudiSolidarityWithIran began trending, with influencers, poets, and youth groups expressing grief and unity.
4. Historical Ties with Iran
Despite political differences, Iran and Saudi Arabia share deep historical links: scholars, merchants, and pilgrims have traveled between the two lands for over a thousand years. Iran has sent millions of pilgrims to Hajj, and both nations have contributed to Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, and art.
This mutual heritage makes the U.S. nuclear aggression not just a political matter, but a spiritual wound that echoes across generations.
5. A Call for Regional and Global Peace
Saudi Arabia has now called for an urgent emergency session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to issue a joint resolution condemning the attack and urging global nuclear disarmament.
The Kingdom has also reached out to the United Nations to demand an independent inquiry and to propose new protocols banning first-use nuclear strikes, especially in civilian zones.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s stand with Iran marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history—one where moral clarity overcomes rivalry, and Islamic brotherhood transcends borders.
As the Holy Qur’an teaches:
“If anyone saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.”
Iran’s pain is the Ummah’s pain. And Saudi Arabia will not remain silent.
