Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Barrack said discussions between Washington and Ankara were progressing toward a settlement over sanctions imposed following Turkiye’s acquisition of the .

“I think you are going to see the S-400 situation solved soon,” Barrack said, adding that, from Washington’s perspective, Turkiye’s potential re-entry into the would be acceptable.

The United States imposed sanctions on its NATO ally in 2020 after Turkiye purchased the Russian S-400 system, citing concerns over compatibility with NATO defence infrastructure and risks to sensitive military technology. The move also led to Ankara’s removal from the multinational F-35 production and procurement programme.

The dispute has been a longstanding source of tension in bilateral relations, with both sides seeking a framework that addresses security concerns while restoring defence cooperation.

During the meeting, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri emphasized the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, stating that strengthened relations between the two nations and their military establishments would “bring despair and hopelessness to our enemies and joy to our friends.”

Bagheri also expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s role as an observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise, IMEX 2024. The joint naval drill was held in the Indian Ocean with participation from Iran, Russia, and Oman, alongside observer delegations from several countries including Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Qatar, and Bangladesh.

Highlighting progress since the normalization of diplomatic ties, Bagheri noted that military relations between Tehran and Riyadh have steadily developed following the Beijing Agreement signed in March 2023, which marked the restoration of diplomatic relations after years of tensions.

The visit by Prince Khalid signals a continued thaw in relations and growing defense dialogue between the two regional powers, as both sides seek to strengthen stability and cooperation across the Middle East.