Iran: Resuming Relations with Saudi Arabia Shows Effectiveness of Diplomacy

Iran

March 14th, 9:03am

London, Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on Monday (EPA)

After the recent announcement of the rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, Iran is hailing diplomacy as an effective solution to settle disputes. “The resumption of political relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia shows the effectiveness and success of diplomacy as a solution to settle differences,” said Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani. “Fortunately, with the positive atmosphere that we are witnessing in the region, this positive development [the deal with Saudi Arabia] can happen in connection with other regional countries as well, including Bahrain,” he added. In support of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain had severed its relations with Tehran after an attack on the Saudi embassy in January 2016. According to Kanaani, Iran hopes to resume relations with Bahrain after the rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh. “We should further trust the path of diplomacy and take steps in this direction,” he explained. When asked on whether the Yemeni crisis was raised during negotiations with Saudi Arabia, Kanaani dodged the question and said that talks dealt with bilateral relations. “Iran will not conduct proxy negotiations on behalf of any country, unless it is asked to play a positive role in an issue,” he explained. Furthermore, Kanaani said Iran is ready to play a “positive” role in meeting the UN’s request to resolve the crisis in Yemen. Kanaani’s comment had followed another question about talks that UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg held with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on Monday. Fadahossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament's influential committee on national security and foreign policy, told state-owned “ISNA” that “the closer Iran gets to the neighboring countries and the region, the more we can solve our problems with their help.” “This agreement is a good omen. We look forward to greater steps to be taken to remove obstacles,” added Maleki.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4211326/iran-resuming-relations-saudi-arabia-shows-effectiveness-diplomacy