Iranian Official Heads to Saudi Arabia as Israel Postpones U.S. Meeting

As the Middle East remains on edge in anticipation of a possible retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran, the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of a diplomatic tour aimed at shoring up relations with Iran’s Arab neighbors.

In Riyadh, the Saudi capital, Mr. Araghchi met with the Saudi foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“I hope that these consultations can lead to better conditions for Palestine and Lebanon and establish peace in the region,” Mr. Araghchi told Iranian state television upon his arrival.

Another important diplomatic meeting that had been set for Wednesday will not happen: Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, delayed a trip to Washington to discuss the situation in the Middle East with U.S. officials. Mr. Gallant said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked him to postpone the trip until after he had spoken to President Biden. The two leaders spoke on Wednesday.

The fate of the two visits highlighted the complicated regional dynamics the Biden administration must navigate as it seeks to calm the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and prevent the outbreak of a third, between Israel and Iran.

The postponement of Mr. Gallant’s trip comes amid heightened tensions between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu over Israel’s conduct in the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and discussions between the two governments about how Israel should retaliate for Iran’s missile barrage last week.