Iran’s Foreign Minister: We Are Ready to Resume Relations with Saudi Arabia

Iran’s Foreign Minister announced in an interview with Al Jazeera that talks with Saudi Arabia have been positive and constructive, and Iran is ready to resume relations with Saudi Arabia. Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad also reported the imminent start of the fifth round of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, in an interview broadcast Thursday evening, December 16 (January 6) on Al Jazeera, described negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as “positive and constructive” and announced Iran’s readiness to resume relations with Saudi Arabia “at any time.”

He also considered the return of Iran’s representatives to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah as “a positive step.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia is willing to discuss regional issues, but currently the talks are focused on bilateral relations.

Amir-Abdollahian added that Iran believes in the importance of a broader regional dialogue including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to resolve regional problems.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have tense relations, and diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed since December 2015 following attacks on Saudi Arabia’s embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional rivals, have long engaged in proxy warfare in Yemen. Saudi Arabia also opposes “Iran’s influence in Lebanon.”

However, the two sides have been in talks for some time with Iraq’s mediation to reduce tensions.

The foreign minister of the thirteenth government has said that the Islamic Republic is prepared for technical delegations from both countries to visit embassies in Tehran and Riyadh, thereby paving the way for the restoration of normal relations.

One day before Iran’s Foreign Minister’s interview with Al Jazeera, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA) reported, citing Iraj Masjedi, Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad, that the fifth round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia will soon begin in Baghdad.

Iran’s Ambassador emphasized in this regard that Baghdad has so far hosted four rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and will soon host the fifth round as well.

Iran’s state news agency quoted Masjedi as saying: “Countries in the region can solve their problems away from American dictates.”

Source: DW