TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday that the Islamic republic iscontinuing talks link regional rivalSaudi link Arabia in a “good atmospherelink,” in the hope of reaching a”common understanding”.
Media reports last month revealed that Iranian and Saudilink officials met in Baghdad in April,their first high-level meeting since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehranin 2016.
“Talks are still continuing in a good atmospherelink,” ministry spokesman SaeedKhatibzadeh said at a press conference. “We hope these talkslink can achieve a common understandingbetween Iran link and Saudilink Arabia,” he added.
Ties between the two countries were cut in 2016 after Iranian protestorsattacked Saudi link diplomatic missionsfollowing the kingdom’s execution of a revered Shiite cleric.
The talks link in Baghdad, facilitated byIraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, remained secret until theFinancial Times reported that a first meeting was held on April 9.
Khatibzadeh confirmed the talks link on May10, saying their purpose was “both bilateral and regional”, but stressed itwas “too soon” to disclose any details.
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“De-escalation and (establishing) ties between two great Islamic countriesin the Persian Gulf region is to the benefit of both nations,” he said atthe time.
Iran link in late April welcomed a “change oftone” from Saudi link Crown Prince Mohammadbin Salman towards it after he called for a “good and special relationship”with Tehran.
The regional rivals have backed opposite sides of several regionalconflicts, from Syria to Yemen, where a Saudi-led military coalition isfighting the Huthi rebels.
Iran link backs the Huthis, who are battlingthe coalition that intervened in Yemen’s war in support of aninternationally recognised government in 2015.
