Iran ‘temporarily suspends’ direct talks with Saudi Arabia
Iran has “temporarily suspended” direct talks with Saudi Arabia, according to an outlet linked with the country’s top security body. Al Jazeera reports that Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced on Saturday during a diplomatic forum in Turkey’s Antalya that a fifth round of talks between the two regional rivals will be hosted by Baghdad on Wednesday. But Nournews, affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which has taken point on the talks with the kingdom, said on Sunday that Iran has unilaterally suspended the talks without citing the reason.
Iran’s foreign ministry had previously said on many occasions that the country is ready to resume the talks soon. Riyadh and Tehran have said they hope the talks can ease tensions but have downplayed expectations of a significant breakthrough. The two countries ended diplomatic ties in 2016 when Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters following the execution of a prominent Shia religious leader by the Sunni-majority kingdom.
Riyadh supported then-United States President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign of harsh sanctions on Iran after his unilateral withdrawal from the country’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It also blamed Iran for a major attack on its oil facilities in 2019, an allegation Tehran denied.
The two countries also stand on opposite sides in the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement since 2014. But the first round of secret talks, which was held in Iraq’s capital in April 2020, signalled a potential thaw. The talks were officially confirmed only months later. The talks came as Iran and world powers again sat down in Vienna in an effort to restore the nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). After more than 11 months, the negotiations in the Austrian capital are now thought to be nearing the finish line.
Earlier this year, Iran said three of its diplomats were accepted into Saudi Arabia after several years to once more set up a representative office at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.
![](https://ccbs.news/templates/Default/img/doubledown.png)
![](https://ccbs.news/templates/Default/img/doubledown.png)
Iranian envoy: Next 3+3 meeting to be held in Turkey soon
19 July 2024 / 14:01
Armenian authorities probing military aircraft crash
19 July 2024 / 13:57
Georgian President asks Constitutional Court to repeal foreign agents law
15 July 2024 / 14:53
Armenia kicks off joint military exercise with U.S.
15 July 2024 / 14:48
Armenian Foreign Minister left for New York
15 July 2024 / 14:44
Macron reaffirms support for Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue at meeting with Erdogan
12 July 2024 / 13:33
Masoud Pezeshkian to be inaugurated as Iran's president in three weeks
11 July 2024 / 11:04
Mirzoyan, Blinken discuss bilateral issues in Washington
10 July 2024 / 14:30
U.S. continues to work for diplomatic resolution between Armenia, Azerbaijan
10 July 2024 / 14:19
Armenian FM to travel to Washington
09 July 2024 / 13:33
Reformist Pezeshkian wins Iran's presidential race
08 July 2024 / 13:14
Armenian parliament speaker hails 'productive' talks with U.S. officials
05 July 2024 / 14:32
Astana hosting SCO+ summit with participation of Aliyev and Erdogan
04 July 2024 / 14:40
Armenia-Azerbaijan talks a priority for U.S. – State Dept
04 July 2024 / 13:37
Why does U.S. Congress delegation arrive in Armenia?
03 July 2024 / 13:44