Iran-Saudi cooperation will benefit region, Muslim world: Official

The assistant to Iran’s Foreign Minister and director general for the Persian Gulf affairs of the Foreign Ministry has expressed the country’s intention to cooperate at a maximum level with all its neighbors, saying Tehran-Riyadh ties will be in the interests of the entire region and the Muslim world.

“We think that the cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia as two Muslim countries will benefit the issues of the Muslim world as well as the region and will develop regional cooperation,” Alireza Enayati said in an interview with Etemad newspaper published on Saturday.

He also noted that Iranian and Saudi delegations have so far held three rounds of talks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The fourth round, he added, was postponed to a time that is convenient for both sides because a new government is taking office in Iran and the annual Hajj rituals are upcoming in Saudi Arabia.

“On the Iranian side, the negotiations were a fundamental decision on the part of the [Islamic] establishment. The establishment and the government decided to hold such talks with the Saudi side, and the Iranian delegation included all relevant institutions,” Enayati said.

He further stressed that Iran and Saudi Arabia do not need a mediator in their dialog, which included bilateral, regional and transregional issues.

“If bilateral bonds between Iran and Saudi Arabia enter a new phase, it will definitely pave the way for regional talks and cooperation and lead to the improvement of the position of both states in the region,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has taken a new approach to the region or in its dealing with regional issues, the official said, adding that he had the impression that the Riyadh regime is serious about its dialog with Tehran.

“Iran promotes its vision of cooperating with regional countries and believes that if there is a problem, misunderstanding or question mark somewhere, dialog is the best and perhaps the only way to advance interests,” he emphasized.

“My many years of experience show that Iran’s hand of friendship is extended towards all countries in the region without exception. Everyone, who has taken this hand and squeezed it, has witnessed useful and effective measures by Iran.”

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, enraged by the Saudi execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, stormed its embassy in Tehran. Since then, Saudi Arabia has taken a tough tone on Iran and strongly supported the US “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

MG