Iran confirms talks with rival Saudi Arabia
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the Iraq-mediated talks focused on bilateral and regional issues.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the country’s widely reported talks with Saudi Arabia in what marks Tehran’s first public acknowledgement of diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with its regional rival.
During a news conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the talks focused on bilateral and regional issues, according to state news agency IRNA.
Tehran welcomes negotiations aimed at easing tensions and establishing relations between the two countries, Khatibzadeh said, adding, “This is not a new policy.”
The two rival countries have long been at odds, competing for influence in various proxy wars across the Middle East. In 2016, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran following violent protests at its embassy, triggered by Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric.
