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Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Suhaibani the Saudi Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation received Ambassador Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami the Iranian Permanent Representative in Jeddah according to details released by the missions involved. The two diplomats reviewed issues of mutual interest between Saudi Arabia and Iran within the framework of the OIC. They also held discussions on matters related to the organization and its various specialized bodies as part of routine diplomatic exchanges.
The Iranian Permanent Mission to the OIC reported that the envoys exchanged views on key issues on the organization’s agenda and explored ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination. Similar meetings have taken place with representatives from other member states throughout 2026 according to records from the Union of OIC News Agencies. The session occurred against the backdrop of ongoing multilateral engagement by both countries in the pan-Islamic body.
The two sides reaffirmed the OIC’s leading role in addressing contemporary challenges according to the joint readout from the meeting. OIC official figures show the organization comprises 57 member states across four continents. Its status as the world’s second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations has been consistently highlighted in statements from the Jeddah-based secretariat.
Al-Suhaibani who assumed his role prior to 2025 has participated in multiple such bilateral meetings with counterparts from Jordan Kuwait and Iraq in recent months the Union of OIC News Agencies reported. Sheikholeslami took up his position in late 2025 and has focused on building ties with fellow permanent missions. These encounters typically cover coordination on joint Islamic action and support for the OIC’s diplomatic initiatives at regional and international levels.
The meeting addressed topics of common interest including ways to enhance consultation on files before the OIC and its affiliated institutions. The organization maintains more than 30 specialized bodies and institutions dedicated to areas ranging from economic development to cultural affairs according to OIC documentation. Both representatives agreed on the value of sustained dialogue to advance the bloc’s objectives.
Further discussions centered on the role of member states and permanent missions in confronting challenges and bolstering the OIC’s efforts in support of Islamic world causes the missions indicated. The exchange forms part of a broader pattern of diplomatic activity in Jeddah where the OIC maintains its headquarters. Officials from the two sides noted the importance of such meetings in fostering alignment ahead of upcoming OIC gatherings.
