ByNews Desk- The Cradle
The talks were suspended last month after Saudi Arabia executed 81 men, half of whom were Shia Muslims
“The latest positive meeting has raised hopes for the two countries to take steps toward the resumption of ties,” Iranian media outlet Nour News reported on 23 April.
An anonymous source told media that “the two delegations touched on most issues relating to the region, as well as that of bilateral relations and security of the Gulf region,” and that “the atmosphere of the session was very positive.”
Tehran and Riyadh severed diplomatic relations in 2016, but in recent months, the two countries have expressed a desire to improve relations.
The two regional powers have so far held four rounds of talks in Baghdad, Iraq’s capital city, in an attempt to restore diplomatic relations.
Ties between the two countries were cut after Saudi authorities executed Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and angry protestors attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
The fifth round of talks were to be held last month, but were suspended by Iran on 13 March.
The decision to suspend the talks was made after Saudi Arabia executed 81 men, half of whom were members of the Shia community, over what it called “allegiance to foreign terrorist organizations and … deviant beliefs.”
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been frosty for years over a variety of issues, including the war on Yemen, where, since March 2015, Riyadh and its allies have been fighting the Ansarallah resistance movement.
The Saudi-led coalition invaded Yemen with the aim of removing Ansarallah from the capital city of Sanaa, and restoring the government of Saudi-backed former president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Riyadh accuses Iran of providing military equipment and training to Ansarallah. Both Tehran and Sanaa have strongly rejected the allegations.
During a visit to Tehran last week, Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Fouad Hussein, confirmed in a press conference that the talks would resume.
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