Iranian Foreign Minister: We are ready to resume relations with Saudi Arabia

In an interview with Al Jazeera, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced that the talks with Saudi Arabia were positive and constructive, and that Iran is ready to resume relations with Saudi Arabia. The Iranian ambassador to Baghdad also announced the imminent start of the fifth round of Iran-Saudi talks.

In an interview broadcast on Al Jazeera on Thursday night (January 6), Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described Iran's talks with Saudi Arabia as "positive and constructive" and expressed readiness to resume relations with Saudi Arabia "at any time."

He also considered the return of Iranian representatives to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Jeddah a "positive step."

The Iranian foreign minister noted that Saudi Arabia is willing to discuss regional issues, but currently the talks are focused on bilateral relations.

AmirAbdollahian added that Iran believes in the importance of a broad regional dialogue including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye to solve regional problems.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have tense relations, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in January 2015 after the attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, two regional rivals, have long waged a proxy war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia also opposes “Iranian influence in Lebanon.”

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

The Foreign Minister of the 13th government has said that the Islamic Republic is ready for technical delegations from the two countries to visit the embassies in Tehran and Riyadh, thus preparing the ground for the return of relations to normal.

A day before the Iranian Foreign Minister's interview with Al Jazeera, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency, IRNA, reported, citing Iraj Masjedi, the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, that the fifth round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia would soon begin in Baghdad.

In this regard, the Iranian ambassador emphasized that Baghdad has so far hosted four rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and will soon host the fifth round.

The Iranian state news agency quoted Masjedi as saying: "Countries in the region can solve problems among themselves, away from American dictates."

Source: DW