Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, has said his country is hopeful after talks with Iran, but described them as being at an early stage.
"We have initiated some exploratory talks," Bin Farhan said in Paris on Tuesday (18 May), where he is attending two international summits. "We hope that the Iranians will see that it is in their interest to work with their neighbours in a positive way that leads to security, stability and prosperity. If they can see that it's in their best interests, I can have hope", Bin Farhan said.
Officials from both countries are yet to provide details about what topics are under discussion. The talks aim to restore relations that were severed five years ago. The talks, facilitated by the Iraqi prime minister, Mustafa Al Kadhimi, were kept secret until the Financial Times reported on a meeting that was held in Baghdad on 9 April 2021.
The Iranian government confirmed earlier this month that the talks were under way, suggesting that it was "too soon" to discuss the results.
There are many contentious issues between the two countries in a rivalry that has often been described as the Middle East's cold war. The regional rivals also back opposite sides in several regional conflicts.
Iraqi President Brahim Salih confirmed his country's role in the dialogue: "Iraq and the United States do not want a permanent US military presence in Iraq, Iran is our neighbour and we want to integrate it into the regional framework."
