INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Shafaq News/ The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, confirmed that the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, welcomed
conducting "public negotiations" with Iran to resolve the outstanding issues.In the weekly press conference, Kanaani said that the previous
"five rounds of negotiations between Tehran and Riyadh in Baghdad were positive.""Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein confirmed, in a phone
call with his counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian, that Saudi Crown Prince welcomed the political and public
talks.""We also welcome to hold the next round of negotiations formally, politically, and publicly
Again, we thank Baghdad's efforts and positive role in this regard." Kanaani added.Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein
Amirabdollahian said Iran and Saudi Arabia expressed readiness to take their Iraq-mediated negotiations from the "security" to "a public and
political" level.In an interview with state TV, Iran's top official highlighted the developments with Riyadh and confirmed that the five
rounds of talks were held mainly at a "security" level."Tehran had received a message from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein that Riyadh
is ready for public talks on politics.""We also expressed readiness" in the talks, "which would eventually lead to the resumption of normal
diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added.In January 2016, the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was attacked
after Saudi authorities executed Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr
The kingdom then cut ties with Iran.Relations between the two rivals deteriorated further after Iran, in September 2016, accused Saudi
authorities of causing the death of around 400 Iranian pilgrims in a 2015 stampede in Mecca.The two sides have since been engaged in a solid
regional rivalry, often accusing each other of waging a proxy war for regional influence.In 2021, the two countries launched direct talks
mediated by Iraq, which received the Iranian and Saudis delegations for five rounds.
