TEHRAN, Oct 2 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iranian Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s proposal to hold talks to resolve mutual issues.
“We welcome (Saudi Crown Prince) Mohammed bin Salman, being quoted as saying he wants to resolve issues through talks with Tehran,” Larijani said.
Any dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia could help solve many security and political issues, he said.
On Sunday, Crown Prince Mohammed reportedly said that he would prefer a political and peaceful solution to a military one, to resolve its disputes with Iran.
On Monday, Ali Rabiee, spokesman for the Iranian government, confirmed that Saudi leaders had sent messages to Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, through the head of a third state, for holding negotiations on mutual issues.
Besides, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that, Iran is open for holding dialogue with Saudi Arabia, to settle mutual issues and talking with regional states, to set up a coalition for the security of the region.
Tensions have been rising between the two rivals since Sept 14, when two major Saudi oil facilities were attacked and forced it to cut half of its oil exports.
The Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the United States and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attacks. Iran has repeatedly denied the charges, while warning that, any attack on the Islamic republic could spark a regional war.– NNN-TASNIM