A week after the Saudi-Iran restored ties, Israel launched a new version of Ofek (a spy satellite) with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant being present despite his dismissal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Ofek-13 satellite was first introduced by Israel and blasted into space orbit in 1988.
As per Israel, the satellite will hover over the Mediterranean Sea as a ‘precaution against sensitive technology falling into the hands of hostile Middle East neighbors.
Following Chinese mediation, the potential for peace between the regional rivals is seen by Israel as a major threat to its security. As part of the deal, China agreed to share its large spy satellites with Riyadh and Tehran, reports said.
The agreement signed in China’s capital Beijing on Friday said the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet to discuss diplomatic missions within two months.
Diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia were suspended from 1987 to 1990 and for seven years after the execution of Nimr al-Nimr and the 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.
However, in March 2023, after discussions brokered by China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore relations which experts see as a defeat to US-Israel.
