*In a recent round of peace talks, Iran has reportedly asked Saudi Arabiato help sell its oil and get rid of the US sanctions in exchange forlimiting Houthi attacks on the kingdom’s oil facilities, the Middle EastEye quoted Iraqi officials involved in the negotiations taking place inBaghdad, as saying.*

The countries have had strained relations for decades, but their tiesstooped to new lows when they cut diplomatic ties in 2016.

However, thanks to a significant shift in Riyadh’s foreign policy, thelong-standing regional rivals began a series of direct talks in the Iraqicapital last month.

Their goal, “to end the state of conflict and incitement waged by theinstitutions associated with both countries at all levels.”

According to the Middle East Eye, the two sides held a new round of secretdialogues last week in the presence of a limited number of Iraqi officials,whose job was to contribute to the convergence of views and moisten theatmosphere.

Yemen war was the most discussed topic during the four-hour meeting thattook place in Baghdad last week. The Saudis sought the guarantee that theattacks on oil facilities would end.

Houthi rebels have targeted the oil facilities almost daily since theformer US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement in2018 and reimposed wide-ranging sanctions on Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iran focused to circumvent the US sanctions that have hurt itseconomy very badly.

They specifically asked Saudi Arabia to help them sell their oil once againin the international market, the sources told MEE.

“They offered to sell it to the Saudis at a price lower than internationalprices on the condition that the Saudis sell it on the world markets intheir own way.”

Iran currently sells its oil indirectly, mainly through the United ArabEmirates and Oman, to bypass the US embargo on its exports. Saudi Arabiacould be an ideal option for Tehran as Riyadh leads the OPAC group, Iraqiofficials said.

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