Iran calls for resuming ordinary ties with Saudi Arabia

Iran calls for resuming ordinary ties with Saudi Arabia, said Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab-African affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

“Although Iran does not approve of Saudi Arabia’s approach to use pressure to resolve regional problems, especially in Yemen, but we believe that Tehran-Riyadh relations should be turned into ordinary and acceptable levels,” Iran’s IRNA news agency quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying August 3.

The Islamic Republic puts the highest priority on collaboration with its neighboring countries, he said, adding that the two countries have potential to cooperate for resolving problems, not only between them but also in the region.

“We emphasize that Iran and Saudi Arabia should start explicit, effective, and constructive negotiations in order to remove misunderstandings and fight against terrorism and extremism and help establish security in the region,” he said.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have opposite points of view and positions on conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. They compete to boost their influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.

/By Trend/