Amir Abdollahian: We have received contradictory statements from Saudi Arabia; We will not cross the "red lines of the Islamic Republic" for the JCPOA

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Thursday that Tehran has received contradictory statements from Saudi Arabia regarding the restoration of bilateral relations.

He told a news conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the return of normal bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, "but we have received conflicting messages from senior Saudi officials. We expect Saudi Arabia to act in the best interests of the region." He did not elaborate.

Speaking alongside Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bouhabib, Amir Abdollahian said of his trip, "We are in Beirut to say that we want nothing but the best for the Lebanese people."

He said he had spoken with his Lebanese counterpart about the Iran-Saudi talks. Tehran and Riyadh are at odds over Iran's support for Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Many blame the Islamic Republic of Iran for Lebanon's economic and security problems due to its support for the Hezbollah militia.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaged in proxy wars across the Middle East. Last year, the two countries began direct talks to defuse tensions.

In part of his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister also referred to the negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, saying that an agreement could happen in the short term if, as he put it, "the American side, instead of playing with time, playing with words, and wasting time, should choose realistic behavior and the right approach."

According to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA, Jasin Amir-Abdollahian added, "We are ready to reach a good, strong, and sustainable agreement, but not at the cost of crossing the red line of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

He said that if the final point of the agreement is reached, all countries in the region will benefit from it.

Source: Voice of America