JEDDAH — The Saudi Council of Ministers welcomed on Tuesday the agreement reached between the United States of America and Iran to end military operations and begin detailed negotiations aimed at securing a permanent agreement. The Cabinet session, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, expressed appreciation for the mediation efforts of Pakistan and Qatar in this regard. The Council expressed hope that peace would be achieved in a manner that enhances regional and global security while taking into account the security interests of countries in the region and respecting their internal affairs. The Cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to its state before February 28. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet praised God Allah for bestowing upon Saudi Arabia the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, and for the remarkable success and meticulous organization achieved during the 2026 Hajj season. Through integrated efforts, the Kingdom enabled more than 1.7 million pilgrims to perform their rituals in comfort and tranquility, further reinforcing its position as a leading global model in crowd management and the delivery of the highest-quality services to the pilgrims, in accordance with a comprehensive institutional approach founded on planning, data, and advanced technologies. The Cabinet expressed its appreciation to the Supreme Hajj Committee and all entities involved in the pilgrim service ecosystem for their distinguished efforts and dedication in carrying out this great Islamic responsibility. Their high levels of coordination, integration, and readiness contributed to achieving the objectives of the security, preventive, organizational, and service plans, while mobilizing all available resources and capabilities to care for pilgrims from their arrival in the Kingdom until their safe return to their home countries. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, State Minister, Cabinet Member for Shoura Council Affairs and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said that the Cabinet subsequently reviewed the content of discussions and consultations held over the past several days between Saudi Arabia and a number of friendly countries. These engagements aimed to strengthen relations and advance bilateral and multilateral cooperation and coordination across various fields in a manner that serves common interests and mutual benefits, while supporting international efforts to reinforce security and stability at the regional and global levels.The Cabinet further highlighted that the selection of Riyadh as the headquarters of the first cybersecurity office established by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership in cybersecurity. It also underscores the Kingdom’s efforts and initiatives to promote stability in cyberspace and support societal prosperity and economic growth. It added that these efforts have helped position the Kingdom as a leading destination for regional and international organizations operating in this vital sector.The Cabinet welcomed the statement issued by International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts following the conclusion of the 2026 Article IV consultation discussions, which reaffirmed the strength and resilience of the Saudi economy in the face of regional developments. The statement cited the Kingdom’s strong economic fundamentals, ample reserves, diversified oil and logistics infrastructure, and continued reforms under Saudi Vision 2030. The Cabinet also praised the achievements of the National Transformation Program in 2025, coinciding with the completion of 71 percent of its implementation initiatives. The initiatives aim to protect the environment, ensure sustainable food and water security, support community development, strengthen the non-profit sector, expand workforce participation among various segments of society, and enhance labor market attractiveness. They also help boost private-sector participation, deepen economic partnerships, and promote excellence in government performance. The Cabinet further highlighted the gains achieved by the Human Capability Development Program in advancing the education and training ecosystem, enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi talent locally and globally, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation, expanding the use of modern technologies, and strengthening the Kingdom’s national identity and cultural presence. The Cabinet approved the amendment to the Anti-Terrorism and Financing of Terrorism Law and its executive regulations. It endorsed the Recreational Activities and Supporting Activities Law. The Cabinet ratified the Riyadh Design Law Treaty and approved the Law on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Funds in Money Laundering Crimes, Associated Predicate Offenses and Terrorist Financing Crimes. The Cabinet authorized the minister of interior or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Omani and Belarusian sides draft memoranda of understanding for cooperation in the field of civil defense and civil protection between the government of Saudi Arabia and the governments of Oman and Belarus. It authorized the minister of interior or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Pakistani side a draft agreement between the Saudi and Pakistani governments concerning the mutual recognition of private driving licenses. The Council authorized the minister of finance and chairman of the board of directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority or his deputy to sign a draft agreement between the Saudi and Chinese governments on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the cultural field between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Indian Ministry of Culture, and another MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (ALIPH) regarding the establishment of a regional office for the organization in Riyadh. It approved a MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources for cooperation in the field of mineral resources. The Council authorized the minister of health or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Kuwaiti side a draft MoU for cooperation in health fields between the Saudi Ministry of Health and Kuwaiti Ministry of Health. The Cabinet approved a MoU between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment for cooperation in the field of food safety and risk assessment, and another MoU for cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency and the National Information Agency of Tajikistan.
