Iran, Saudi Arabia discuss ties, urge regional cooperation for peace

Senior diplomats from Iran and Saudi Arabia on Sunday discussed bilateral ties and stressed the need for regional cooperation to safeguard peace in light of the Israeli offensive in the region.

During their meeting in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati reviewed ways to advance bilateral ties and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi condemned what he called Israel's ongoing "genocide and crimes" in the occupied Palestinian territories and its "aggressions" against Lebanon and Syria, calling them the biggest threat to peace and stability in West Asia and beyond.

He urged for more effective cooperation and coordination among the regional and Muslim states to curb Israel's "warmongering and law-breaking" in West Asia.

The Saudi diplomat, for his part, underlined his country's position on the need for enhanced regional cooperation to safeguard peace and stability.

Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations in April, 2023, ending a seven-year freeze. Riyadh had severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the kingdom's execution of a Shiite cleric.