TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi sent a message of sympathy to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Saturday, expressing condolences over the death of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan.

According to Reuters, Sultan died in New York of colon cancer early on Saturday Saudi time.

He had been a central figure in Saudi decision-making since becoming defense minister in 1962 and was made crown prince in 2005.