A meeting between Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers may be organized in the foreseeable future. Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry, said this on Monday, as quoted by Nour News.
"Iran and Saudi Arabia will organize a meeting of foreign ministers. We hope it will take place in the near future," said the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman. "There are no obstacles for direct talks between the foreign ministers of the two states, the process [of organizing the meeting] will be carried out through diplomatic channels," Kanani added. He did not provide information on the expected location of the talks, but noted that agreements have already been reached in this regard.
The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman also noted the positive role played by Iraq and Oman in the normalization of relations between Tehran and Riyadh. According to him, eight rounds of bilateral talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia were held in just a year and a half: five of them were held in Baghdad, and three more – in Muscat.
On March 10, it became known about the restoration of Iranian-Saudi diplomatic relations. The parties plan to open embassies within two months. For several days, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and his Saudi counterpart held talks in Beijing, which resulted in the adoption of a trilateral statement. It notes that the countries are committed to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and plan to resume cooperation in trade, economy, culture, science, and technology.
Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked by protesters angered by the execution in Riyadh of prominent Shiite preacher Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The dialogue between Riyadh and Tehran resumed in April 2021, mediated by Iraq and Oman.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: sipo/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS