Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister HRH Prince Faisal bin Farhan acknowledged in an interview with the AFP that the Kingdom has held “exploratory talks” with regional rival Iran, and said that Saudi Arabia is “hopeful” that the talks in their early stages will lead to diplomatic progress.
The official-level meetings aim to restore relations severed between the rival countries five years ago. The two nations are at odds on several regional issues, including the war in Yemen and what the United States and Saudi Arabia call Iran’s malign influence across the region.
“We have initiated some exploratory talks. They are at a very early stage but we are hopeful,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in Paris on Tuesday in rare comments about the talks. The Foreign Minister is participating in two international summits.
The talks with Iran, facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, had remained secret until the Financial Times reported that a first meeting had been held in Baghdad on April 9, the AFP notes.
Saudi Arabia at first denied that report. The Iranian government only confirmed on May 10 that the talks had been held.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated his emphasis that the talks were only at an early stage.
“If (the Iranians) can see that their interest is in a good relationship with their neighbours, I can be hopeful,” Prince Faisal said.
Per the AFP, when asked what the impact of the June presidential elections in Iran might be, the Foreign Minister said he thought it would be minimal. “Our understanding of Iran’s foreign policy is that it’s set by the Supreme Leader,” he explained. “So we don’t think there will be a substantial change.”
“There may be a change in the representatives that portray that policy, but in the end, it’s what happens on the ground that matters, and that is driven by the Supreme Leader.”
[Click here to read the full report on the AFP via France24]
