SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN HOLD TALKS TO PATCH UP RELATIONS, FT REPORT; SAUDI SOURCE DENIES

Sun 18 April 2021:

High-placed officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran have been holding direct talks to restore the relations between the two countries, which cut their diplomatic ties in 2016, Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing sources.

The first round of Saudi-Iranian talks took place in Baghdad on April 9, included discussions about attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group and were positive, the FT report added, citing one of the officials.

The Saudi delegation is said to have been led by intelligence chief, Khalid bin Ali Humaidan. This is said to be the first major political conversation between the two powers since 2016 and, according to one of the officials, the talks went well.

The official added that another meeting was scheduled for next week.

The report comes as Washington and Tehran try to revive a 2015 nuclear accord to which Riyadh had been opposed and as the United States presses for an end to the Yemen conflict, seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Riyadh has called for a nuclear deal with stronger parameters and said Gulf Arab states should join any negotiations on the accord to ensure that this time it addresses Iran’s missiles programme and its support for regional proxies.

Nevertheless, a senior Iraqi official and a foreign diplomat confirmed that the talks did occur. The official also mentioned that Baghdad had facilitated communication between Iran and Egypt, as well as Jordan.

Saudi senior source denies FT report

A senior Saudi official has denied direct talks have been held with Iran, Arab News reported. Not only did a Saudi source deny the story, but neither the Iranian and Iraqi governments provided the FT with a comment.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 after its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad had been attacked by violent mobs, exacting revenge for the execution of famous Shiite preacher Nimr Baqir Nimr by the Saudis. Bahrain, Sudan and Djibouti cut their diplomatic ties with Iran as well.

The sides have also been engaged in what is considered by many to be a proxy conflict in Yemen, with the Saudis supporting the government of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi against the Houthi rebels that are allegedly backed by Iran. This resulted in multiple Houthi attacks against Saudi cities and oil facilities.