Saudi Arabia confirms talks with Iran, plays down breakthrough Saudi Arabia s Foreign Ministry says it is premature to reach any definitive conclusions about the talks. Supporters of Yemen s Houthi rebels attend a rally marking the sixth anniversary of the Saudi-led coalition s intervention in Yemen, in the capital, Sanaa on March 26, 2021. A Saudi-led military coalition entered Yemen in March 2015 with the goal of restoring its legitimate government to power after the Houthis and their allies took over Sanaa. - MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images
May 7, 2021
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry pumped the brakes on speculation over a potential breakthrough in its hostilities with Iran on Friday following reports that the rivals had held talks in Baghdad to ease tensions in the region.
Iran-Saudi contacts geared at Yemen, not a game changer for now
“The key question here is: could this round of negotiations put an end to Yemen’s protracted war or lead to just a temporary ceasefire?”, Ahmed Nagi, a scholar at Carnegie Middle East Centre, said.
Friday 07/05/2021
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman greets Iraq’s President Barham Salih shake in Mecca, Saudi Arabia June 1, 2019. (REUTERS)
BAGHDAD Iraq has hosted more than one round of talks between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Wednesday.
Salih made his remarks during an interview broadcast live online with the Beirut Institute think tank. He gave no more details.
AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed
6 May 2021
Iraqi President Barham Salih claimed in an interview on Wednesday that Baghdad has “more than once” hosted secret talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The
Financial Times reported on April 18 that a single round of direct talks between Saudi and Iranian officials quietly occurred in Baghdad on April 9. The discussions were focused on the civil war in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia and Iran have intervened on different sides.
Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan reportedly led his country’s delegation, while Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani led his. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi “facilitated” the discussion.
The Straits Times
Iraq convened indirect talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with a focus on Yemen s war.PHOTO: AFP
Published8 hours ago
https://str.sg/JthE
They can read the article in full after signing up for a free account.
Share link:
Or share via:
Sign up or log in to read this article in full
Sign up
All done! This article is now fully available for you
Read now
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
including the ST News Tablet worth $398.