The Iranian flag flies in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS / Lisi Niesner
Senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks in an effort to restore their relations four years after severing diplomatic ties, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing officials briefed on the discussions.
The first round of Saudi-Iranian talks took place in Baghdad on April 9 and included discussions of attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iran-linked Houthi group in Yemen, the FT report added, citing one of the officials. .
The talks were positive, the official told the FT.
The FT also said a senior Saudi official denied speaking to Iran. Lebanese pro-Iranian television channel Al Mayadeen and Unews news agency on Sunday both cited an Iranian source denying talks with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, and Iranian officials were not immediately available.
The report comes as Washington and Tehran try to revive a 2015 nuclear deal opposed by Riyadh and as the United States pushes for an end to the conflict in Yemen, which the region sees as a proxy war between Saudis. Arabia and Iran.
Riyadh has called for a nuclear deal with stronger parameters and said Gulf Arab states must participate in all negotiations on the deal to ensure it tackles Iran’s missile program and its support for regional proxies this time.
Saudi Arabia and its allies backed former US President Donald Trump’s decision in 2018 to terminate the world powers’ nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran, which responded by violating several restrictions on its nuclear activities.
A Saudi State Department official told Reuters last week that confidence-building measures could pave the way for extensive talks involving the Arab Gulf. read more
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