Iran to Saudi Arabia: We're willing to talk if you are
Iran is prepared for dialogue over differences between the two countries if Saudi Arabia is also ready, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.
Tensions have spiked between Iran and Saudi Arabia, arch-rivals for predominance in the Middle East, since Riyadh accused the Islamic Republic of carrying out attacks that damaged six oil tankers in the Gulf, an allegation Tehran has denied.
"If Saudi Arabia is ready for dialogue, we are always ready for dialogue with our neighbours," Zarif said.
"We have never closed the door to dialogue with our neighbours and we will never close the door to dialogue with our neighbours."
The attacks on the oil tankers came as the United States, Saudi Arabia's major big power ally, toughened sanctions on Iran in a bid to force it into negotiations on stricter limits to its nuclear activity and curbs on its ballistic missile programme.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, called in mid-June on the international community to take a “decisive stand” over the tanker attacks but said the kingdom did not want a war in the region.
Zarif also said Iran could hold similar talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a close ally of the Saudis, adding: "If they change their policies it is a very good opportunity for dialogue."
Iran held maritime security talks on Tuesday with the UAE in an apparent bid to calm tensions in the Gulf, though a Gulf Arab official described the discussions as routine and technical, the Reuters news agency reported.
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