Saudi Arabia is a "critical partner" in countering Iranian power in the Middle East, as well as in helping to expand the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and Arab countries, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“When we came in, President Biden was determined that we recalibrate the relationship with Saudi Arabia, and to make sure that the relationship was serving our own interests, as well as our values, as we move forward, but also preserving it, because it also helps us accomplish many important things,” Blinken said at a virtual event organized by Foreign Affairs magazine. “That’s largely what we’ve done.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Monday that Israel was coordinating with the United States and the Gulf states to normalize relations with Riyadh.

Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have formal diplomatic relations, but secret relations have warmed up in recent years. Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince Mohammad bin Salman reportedly sees Israel as a strategic partner in fighting Iranian influence in the region.

Lapid warned that the process of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia would be lengthy and progress would be made in small steps, stressing that the security interests of both countries were at stake.