A senior Iranian official is in Saudi Arabia to try to repair strained relations between the regional rivals in the Gulf, Iranian media reported today.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian flew to the desert kingdom on Monday to meet Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and discuss “matters of common interest”, the reports said.
No further information was immediately available about the trip, the first by a high-level official from Shiite Iran to Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia since Hassan Rouhani became the Islamic republic´s president in August last year.
“It is a step towards improving relations between Tehran and Riyadh,” Iran´s financial daily Donya-e Eghtessad wrote.
Rouhani has stated his wish to improve relations with Iran´s neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia, the Gulf´s other regional heavyweight.
The two countries are on opposite sides in the Syrian conflict, with Tehran backing President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh supporting the rebels trying to topple him.
