Iran-Saudi Arabia Relations

The foreign ministers of Iraq and Oman have announced the release of the only remaining Iranian Haj pilgrim from Saudi Arabia. Tehran has repeatedly called for the immediate release of the citizen detained by Riyadh during the Hajj pilgrimage.

Iran’s will to patch up differences with rival regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and restore diplomatic relations after a years-long rupture has not diminished, an Iranian political affairs expert says.

Talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties after a years-long rift continue, the Iraqi foreign minister, whose country hosts the negotiations, has announced.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister says Riyadh intends to establish close and friendly relationship with Iran since representatives from both states have held several rounds of talks.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani says a new vision is being shaped in Saudi Arabia regarding Iran that is based on dialog.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabiaand enhancing ties between the two regional powerhouses will bolster security in the region.

An Iranian Middle East expert says Iraq risks losing the opportunity of hosting future rounds of Iran-Saudi talks due to a “worrying” political crisis unfolding in the country, and that the diplomatic process may continue in Egypt or European states if the turmoil continues.

An expert on the Middle East says Iran had better pursue a current window of opportunity to hold talks with Saudi Arabia and mend bilateral ties with Riyadh before the latter potentially engages in a normalization of relations with the Israeli regime.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says Saudi Arabia has requested Baghdad to arrange a new round of talks between the kingdom and Iran.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says both Iran and Saudi Arabia have voiced readiness to take their Iraq-mediated negotiations from the “security” level to “a public, political phase,” as two Middle Eastern powers push to mend their troubled ties.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani says a new round of fence-mending talks between the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia will be held in the near future.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, whose country has hosted several rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Araba, has said Bagdad will push for a rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh in line with efforts to ease regional tensions.

An Iranian political commentator says the potential formation of an Arab-Israeli military alliance in the region will not negatively impact the negotiations on fixing troubled ties between Riyadh and Tehran, explaining that the two issues pursue different agendas.

An Iraqi paper claims that foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia may travel to Baghdad and announce a resumption of bilateral relations with the completion of a diplomatic process underway on a détente between the two sides.

The director of Iran’s Strategic Council of Foreign Relations says the Islamic Republic is fully ready for talks with the Saudi government over all bilateral and regional issues.

An Iranian MP has reacted to Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s support for the notion of reopening embassies in Tehran and Riyadh, saying the Islamic Republic never fears negotiations if its national interests are on the line.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Tehran supports the re-opening of Iranian and Saudi embassies the two countries’ capitals.

The Iranian foreign minister has described the latest round of the Iraqi-mediated talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia as positive.

A Kuwaiti media outlet says efforts have begun to arrange a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad.

The Iraqi prime minister says diplomatic discussions between Tehran and Riyadh to iron out differences have made ‘remarkable progress’, adding talks have reached ‘advanced stages’.

Saudi Arabia is the main origin of dust particles, the head of the Iranian Department of Environment said. The official added that Tehran is consulting with Saudis to jointly tackle the air pollution from dust particles.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan has said talks with Iran must be based on the shared stance of Persian Gulf countries, adding “Our hands are extended toward Iran”.

A political commentator blames the Israeli regime as the main factor that is throwing a wrench in diplomatic efforts by Iran and Saudi Arabia to fix their troubled relations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian says Tehran has tabled a new initiative for an agreement in the Vienna talks for the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, but the US government seems to be sitting on the fence on the issue.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says there has been some progress in talks between Riyadh and Tehran but "not enough" and that the kingdom's hands remain outstretched to Iran.