On Monday, amid talks between the two regional rivals on improving relations between the two countries, Iran rejected the resumption of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia on reopening their embassies were too early.
In a televised press conference, Khatibzadeh said in response to a question whether the visit of Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia could indicate the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries: “It is too early to talk about the reopening of embassies by Tehran and Tehran.” Riyadh. “
Relations between the two countries have been severed since 2016 following a raid by a number of Iranian demonstrators on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad in response to the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
However, Riyadh and Tehran, which are on opposite sides of the regional dispute, held four dialogue sessions last year aimed at improving relations, hosted by Iraq and facilitated by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
According to a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, Iran confirmed in April that the fifth round of talks with Saudi Arabia had been “serious and positive.”
In May, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced that an agreement had been reached with Saudi Arabia to hold bilateral meetings in neutral territory at the highest diplomatic level.
In a statement issued by the official Iranian news agency (IRNA), Abdullahian revealed that “the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to hold meetings with a third party at the level of foreign ministers or diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reached without agreement.” Add more details
Source: Lebanon Debate
