(Right to left) The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, along with representatives of Kuwait, Oman and other dignitaries attend the "Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership" in Sweimeh by the Dead Sea shore in central-west Jordan on Dec 20, 2022. (KHALIL MAZRAAWI / AFP)
TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Wednesday that he spoke to his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, one day before, marking the highest-level engagement reported between the two countries since they severed ties in 2016.
Amir-Abdollahian wrote in Arabic on his Twitter account that on the sidelines of the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership held in Jordan on Tuesday, there was an opportunity to have "friendly talks" with some of his counterparts such as foreign ministers from Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric
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The Saudi minister "had told him that his country is ready to continue negotiation with Iran," Amir-Abdollahian added.
Riyadh has yet to respond to Amir-Abdollahian's remarks.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.
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To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year and a fifth-round in April this year.