Saudi Arabia, Iran prepare for sixth-round of talks: Iraqi source to LBCI

In the corridors of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in Jordan, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan met last Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdullahian.

Abdullahian acknowledged the meeting in a tweet, saying he had a friendly meeting with Bin Farhan and assured him of his country's readiness to continue dialogue with Iran.

This positive atmosphere was not limited to this meeting only.

Before Abdullahian traveled to Jordan to attend the Baghdad 2 summit, Abdullahian expressed Iran's readiness to hold a meeting at the level of defense and foreign ministers of neighboring countries and the Gulf states to establish security in the region. 

He added that Tehran is ready to resume relations with Riyadh and open the two countries' embassies if the latter is prepared to do so.

After this courtship between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani came out in his weekly conference today to say that Riyadh and Tehran agreed to continue talks between them and that they could hold a new round in Baghdad.

So, is it possible that we will witness the beginning of the new year, a sixth-round between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

An Iraqi official in the government confirmed to LBCI that the Iraqi Prime Minister asked Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein to resume Iraqi mediation between Tehran and Riyadh to arrange a new meeting between the two parties. He added that a senior Saudi official is expected to visit Baghdad to outline the features of the next round of dialogue between the two countries. 

It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia and Iran previously held five rounds of negotiations mediated by Iraq. Still, according to some observers, the talks between the two countries halted due to Tehran's allegations that Saudi Arabia was playing a role in foreign incitement to widespread protests in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini three months ago.