Official: Iran ready for talks with Saudi Arabia at any level

Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said yesterday that the Islamic Republic is ready to hold talks with Saudi Arabia “at any level and in any form”.

Speaking to reporters during his weekly press briefing, Khatibzadeh added that changing the Saudi rhetoric and discourse towards Iran will help reduce tensions, but will only lead to practical results when coupled with a change in behaviour.

Last month, Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, said the Kingdom aspires to establish a “good” relationship with Iran as a neighbouring country, but added that there are “issues” between the two sides which Saudi Arabia is working with its partners to solve.

Western media outlets have recently reported that delegations from Saudi Arabia and Iran had held talks in April in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, during which they discussed a number of issues including the war in Yemen and Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 2016 after Riyadh executed Saudi Shia cleric Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr who led mass protests against Saudi authorities in the eastern Qatif province.

READ: Iran welcomes ‘change of tone’ from Saudi Arabia, signalling shift in relations