Riyadh rejects Iran talks report

Saudis, Iranians held discussions in Iraq, newspaper claims

Saudi Arabia yesterday denied talks have been held with Iran, four years after the two countries cut off diplomatic ties, Arab News, quoting a senior Saudi official, has said.

The official was contradicting a Financial Times report that claimed discussions were ongoing between the two major regional players. The report, citing unnamed sources said the first round of talks took place in Baghdad on April 9, which included discussions on attacks against Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Al Houthi militia.

The report said the talks were being facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad in Riyadh last month.

‘Low-level meeting’

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted an Iranian official as saying, “this was a low-level meeting to explore whether there might be a way to ease ongoing tensions in the region,” adding that it was based on Iraq’s request.

Reuters also quoted a second source saying the talks also touched on Lebanon, which is facing a political vacuum amid a dire financial crisis

A Western diplomat in the region told Reuters that the United States and Britain were informed in advance of the Saudi-Iran talks but had “not seen the outcome”.

Washington and Tehran are holding indirect talks in Vienna to revive the world powers’ nuclear accord with Iran, which former US President Donald Trump quit in 2018. Tehran has breached several nuclear restrictions after Trump reimposed sanctions.

Riyadh last week called for a nuclear deal with stronger parameters and for involvement of Gulf states, which are concerned about Iran’s missiles programme and its support for regional proxies.