International Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held conferences together with his Saudi counterpart on Thursday, his first go to since a rapprochement earlier this yr.
Iran’s international minister has met Saudi Arabia’s crown prince throughout his first go to to the dominion for the reason that Center East rivals introduced a shock rapprochement, officers mentioned.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Jeddah on Friday, the Saudi Ministry of International Affaris introduced.
“Discussions had been frank, useful and productive,” Amir-Abdollahian mentioned in a social media publish after the assembly.
The state-run Saudi Press Company provided few substantive particulars of their dialog, saying merely that they reviewed relations and “future alternatives for cooperation”.
In a press release posted on social media, the Saudi International Ministry mentioned the 2 officers are searching for methods to develop bilateral relations, in addition to “discussing developments within the state of affairs on the regional and worldwide arenas”.
Iran’s official IRNA information company mentioned it was the primary time a senior Iranian official had met with MBS, 37, who has ushered in a sequence of reforms, however has additionally clamped down on dissent within the nation.
“The assembly … is a good signal of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia warming and increasing,” mentioned Iran’s state-run Press TV correspondent Gisoo Misha Ahmadi from Jeddah.
There have been no particulars concerning the Durra/Arash gasoline subject dispute, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on one facet, and Iran on the opposite, in disagreement over whether or not Iran has any rights to the sphere.
Kuwait welcomed Amir-Abdollahian’s go to to Saudi Arabia, with out specifying whether or not any discussions over the gasoline subject had been fruitful.
Amir-Abdollahian travelled to Riyadh on Thursday, and prolonged what had been scheduled to be a one-day go to.
Shia Muslim-majority Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi broke off ties in 2016, however they agreed to revive diplomatic relations in a Chinese-brokered deal in March.
The announcement sparked optimism, as the 2 regional heavyweights have backed opposing sides in battle zones throughout the Center East for years, together with in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s impoverished neighbour.
On Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian mentioned ties “are progressing in the appropriate course” as he appeared in entrance of the media together with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
His go to would “be a prelude to the assembly of the heads of the 2 international locations”, he mentioned, with out specifying when Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi would journey to Saudi Arabia at King Salman’s invitation.
Iran’s high diplomat hailed financial and safety cooperation between the 2 international locations, however introduced no new agreements. He was accompanied by Iran’s new ambassador to Riyadh, Alireza Enayati.
“We’re positive that these conferences and cooperation will assist the unity of the Islamic world,” Amir-Abdollahian added, proposing a “regional dialogue” with out giving particulars.
Prince Faisal visited Tehran in June and mentioned he hoped Raisi would go to the dominion on the “acceptable time”.
For the reason that March deal, Saudi Arabia has ramped up a push for a cope with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, holding direct talks in Sanaa, and championed the return of key Iran ally Syria to the Arab League.
