The U.S. said it welcomes the news of direct communication between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Jennifer Gavito, deputy assistant secretary for Iran and Iraq at the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told CNBC’s Dan Murphy in Dubai.
“Our regional partners, first of all, like the UAE, are absolutely critical to us as partners in economics, in regional security, in mutual cooperation,” Gavito said. “And so we welcome their contributions to regional stability. With regard to the announcement of direct talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, we welcome that. We welcome any direct talks that lead to greater peace and stability in the region.”
Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday it had held its first round of direct talks with Iran’s new government last month, part of a process begun earlier this year to reduce tension between the Gulf’s rival Sunni and Shi’ite Muslim powers. Last month, Iraqi officials confirmed the latest round of talks, which covered “pending issues between the two countries according to a previously agreed on roadmap, including diplomatic representation between the two countries,” according to one Iraqi official.
But Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the talks were still in the early stages.
“These discussions are still in the exploratory phase. We hope they will provide a basis to address unresolved issues between the two sides and we will strive and work to realize that,” he told a joint news conference, according to Reuters.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have both said they hope the talks can ease tensions, while playing down expectations of a major diplomatic breakthrough. The Kingdom and Iran stand at opposing sides in many of the region’s conflicts, from Yemen to Syria and Lebanon.
As Reuters reports, indirect talks involving the United States, Saudi Arabia’s top ally, and Iran on reviving the nuclear agreement abandoned by former President Trump were put on hold in June and have yet to resume under Iran’s new President Raisi, and Western powers have urged Iran to return to the negotiations.
