TEHRAN: Iran stated Monday that the most recent spherical of talks with its regional rival Saudi Arabia was once “certain and critical” and voiced hope for additional development quickly. Tehran and Riyadh, which severed diplomatic ties in 2016, held 4 rounds of talks in Iraq between April and September final yr, with a 5th assembly final Thursday.

“The 5th spherical of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad … was once certain and critical and noticed development,” overseas ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh instructed journalists. Iran and the dominion of Saudi Arabia fortify rival aspects in different conflicts, together with in Yemen, the place Tehran backs the Houthi rebels and Riyadh leads an army coalition supporting the federal government.

In 2016, Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions within the Islamic republic after the dominion finished respected Shiite cleric Nimr Al-Nimr. Riyadh replied by means of reducing ties with Tehran. Iran’s Nour information company reported the most recent talks have been attended by means of “senior officers from the secretariat of Iran’s Ultimate Nationwide Safety Council and the pinnacle of the Saudi intelligence carrier”.

It added that the overseas ministers of the 2 nations have been anticipated to fulfill “within the close to long run”. Khatibzadeh stated that “if the negotiations are upgraded to top notch political stage, it may be anticipated that development may also be made all of a sudden in several sectors of the talks”. The spokesman additionally stated “an settlement was once reached to carry the following spherical of negotiations” between Iran and Saudi Arabia, however he didn’t specify a date. – AFP