Saudi, Iranian Officials Hold ‘Constructive’ Talks

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian has said he held "positive and constructive" talks with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister.

Abdollahian was in Jeddah on August 26 for the first high-level bilateral talks between the countries since Iranian President Hassan Rohani's election last year.

After meeting Prince Saud al-Faisal, Abdollahian told Reuters news agency that both sides “emphasized the need to open a new page of political relations.”

Abdollahian said the two men discussed issues of regional security such as the rise of the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and the situation in Gaza.

Both Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite-dominated Iran view each other with suspicion, and their relationship has been further strained by the civil war in Syria.

Saudi Arabia backs rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which is supported by Tehran.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Saudi Press Agency