Tehran, Riyadh are ready for public political talks

Shafaq News/ The Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Iran and Saudi Arabia expressed readiness to take their Iraq-mediated negotiations from the “security” to “a public and political” level.

In an interview with state TV, Iran’s top official highlighted the developments with Riyadh and confirmed that the five rounds of talks were held mainly at a “security” level.

“Tehran had received a message from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein that Riyadh is ready for public talks on politics.”

“We also expressed readiness” in the talks, “which would eventually lead to the resumption of normal diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.

Amirabdollahian also elaborated on developing ties with southern Persian Gulf neighbors, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.

“The UAE has decided to send an ambassador to Tehran, and the envoy will soon arrive in Tehran,” he said.

The foreign minister added that Kuwait has also introduced an ambassador, who is due in the Iranian capital in the coming days.

In January 2016, the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was attacked after Saudi authorities executed Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The kingdom then cut ties with Iran.

Relations between the two rivals deteriorated further after Iran, in September 2016, accused Saudi authorities of causing the death of around 400 Iranian pilgrims in a 2015 stampede in Mecca.

The two sides have since been engaged in a solid regional rivalry, often accusing each other of waging a proxy war for regional influence.

In 2021, the two countries launched direct talks mediated by Iraq, which received the Iranian and Saudis delegations for five rounds.