Iran says talks with Saudi Arabia ‘very positive, constructive’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The talks between the Iranian foreign minister and his visiting Saudi counterpart on Saturday were conducted in a “very positive and constructive atmosphere,” Tehran said amid a thaw in relations between the regional powerhouses. 

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a landmark, first-of-a-kind visit since the nations severed ties seven years ago. He met with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, his Iranian counterpart, as well as President Ebrahim Raisi.  

“Various subjects of interest to both countries in the bilateral, regional, and international domains were discussed, leading to good agreements for future steps aimed at expanding bilateral relations,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a press conference, adding that the talks were held in a “very positive and constructive atmosphere.” 

During Farhan’s visit, he extended an invitation to Raisi to visit Riyadh “soon.” 

In the meeting with Raisi, “they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields … in addition to discussing regional and international developments,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a tweet. 

The talks with Amir-Abdollahian were focused on regional security. 

Tehran and Riyadh have had rocky relations since 1979 when Shiite clergymen came to power in Iran and pledged to export their revolution to the world, including Gulf countries. 

The Sunni kingdom Saudi and Shiite-led Iran ruptured ties in 2016 when Iranian protestors attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in retaliation for the kingdom’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. 

In March, a Chinese-brokered deal sealed the restoration of ties between the countries and led to the eventual return of their diplomatic missions. 

The Chinese-brokered rapprochement followed two years of mediation from Iraq, with Baghdad previously hosting five rounds of talks beginning in 2021 between the regional powers which brought them closer to the final agreement reached in Beijing. Oman also mediated discussions. 

On June 6, Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah, appointing Alireza Enayati, previous ambassador to Kuwait, as the envoy. 

The opening of Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran, however, has been delayed, due to the poor state of the building after being damaged during the 2016 protests. Saudi Arabia has rented a floor in a luxury hotel in Tehran to handle its diplomatic affairs until the embassy is repaired.