Iran and Saudi Arabia appeared no closer to bridging their differences on Saturday with both sides sticking to their positions and regional facilitator Oman seeing no breakthrough before U.S. elections in November.
While the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, insists that Tehran and Riyadh have exchanged messages, his Saudi counterpart says that there is no direct contacts between the Islamic Republic and the Persian Gulf kingdom. Zarif also asserted on Saturday that countries such as Saudi Arabia do not seek the de-escalation of tensions in the region.
“If there is a will for reducing tensions, there are many ways, but I believe that countries such as Saudi Arabia do not seek the de-escalation of tensions,” Zarif told the Munich Security Conference. Speaking in a session on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zarif disclosed that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called upon Iran to negotiate with Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, Zarif claimed he had agreed with the former Qods Force Chief Commander Qassem Soleimani to relay a message on Iraq and Yemen to the Saudis. However, according to Zarif, Saudis responded that conflicts between Arab countries were none of Iran’s business.
Based on Reuters / Radio Farda
