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Iran Confirms Talks Took Place With Saudi Arabia

The Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi, Tuesday [April 20] confirmed Iraqi-mediated talks with Saudi Arabia, presumably to restore relations severed five years ago between the regional rivals.

In an interview with IRNA, the official news agency, Masjedi said Iran welcomed Iraqi mediation to "bring Tehran closer to countries with which Iran has challenging relations or where relations have become cold." The ambassador said talks had “not reached clear results” and advised waiting “for the work to progress.”

On Monday the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh reiterated that Iran had always wanted dialogue with Saudi Arabia in the interests of the "people of both countries and peace and stability in the region."  

Khatibzadeh said he has seen media reports on the talks with "various statements, some of which are contradictory." The Financial Times broke the story April 18, citing “three officials briefed on the discussions,” but also including a denial from an un-named Saudi. Arab News on Sunday also quoted an un-named Saudi official denying talks with Iran.

IRNA and news websites close to the Rouhani administration on Monday appeared indirectly to confirm the talks. Aftab News reported Khatibzadeh's remarks without comment in an article headlined "Confirmation of Iran-Saudi Talk." IRNA linked to the Aftab News article on its front page. 

The Financial Times said a first round of talks had taken place on April 9. The newspaper said that according to one official discussions – including the role of the Houthis fighting Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war with some Iranian support – had been positive.

Riyadh cut ties with Iran in 2016 when protestors attacked its embassy in Tehran after Riyadh executed 47 dissidents including the dissident Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Bahrain followed suit.

In a report Monday, AFP said the bilateral meetings were facilitated by the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, after he had met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Emirati officials earlier this month.

AFP said the Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan and representatives of Iran's Supreme National Security Council took part in the Baghdad talks. Lebanon's Al-Akhbar Monday claimed that representatives of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Qods Force were also involved. Al-Akhbar said another round of talks was due next week, also in Baghdad.

The Saudi-Iran contacts come amid nuclear talks in Vienna between Iran and the remaining participants in its 2015 nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with indirect United States participation. Saudi Arabia has opposed the JCPOA and identified strongly with President Donald Trump, who imposed stringent sanctions on Iran.

A British-Iranian journalist, political analyst and former correspondent of The National and journalist at Iran International
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