RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who made an unannounced visit to Riyadh yesterday.
“The consultations covered a range of topics, especially focusing on the need to boost Saudi-Iran relations,” said a diplomatic source. “The visit of the Iranian foreign minister is extremely important keeping in view the current regional situation and the forthcoming Doha summit.”
The talks also dealt with the recent Israeli war on Gaza and the obstacles that hamper plans to create a sovereign Palestinian state.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, who received Mottaki at the Riyadh Airbase, said he discussed all issues with Mottaki.
“As much as we appreciate Iran’s support for Arab causes, we would like to see it channeled through Arab legality and to be in harmony with Arab objectives,” Prince Saud told reporters. “I discussed with Mottaki all these questions in a spirit of honesty, clarity and transparency.”
On the close relations between Turkey and Iran, Prince Saud said: “Turkey and Iran are Islamic countries and we don’t believe that their close relationship would threaten the region’s security. On the contrary, the region would benefit from increasing cooperation between Islamic countries. Turkey’s role is positive and we wish all the best to their efforts.”
Responding to a separate question, Prince Saud denied that King Abdullah’s telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama on Friday dealt with the issue of establishing closer relations between Washington and Tehran.
Prince Saud also denied reports that Saudi Arabia would lower its representation at Doha Arab summit if Iran were invited to the conference in Qatar.
Mottaki conveyed a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to King Abdullah. Prince Saud and Iranian Ambassador Sayed Mohammad Hosseini attended the Riyadh talks.
“Saudi Arabia and Iran shoulder a heavy responsibility to establish peace and security in the Middle East, and consultations among Islamic nations will prepare a better ground for solving regional issues and restoring peace,” said Mottaki.
Mottaki said more political understanding between Islamic countries was the need of the hour. He called for consolidation of Riyadh-Tehran ties. “It is possible to establish security and the process of development in the region by expanding regional cooperation,” he said.
Mottaki’s visit is important as it comes after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Kuwait held a minisummit in Riyadh last week to discuss and patch up differences on the question of Iran, Palestine and Lebanon.
Prince Turki bin Mohammad, undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry for political affairs, also reaffirmed the need to boost links between Riyadh and Tehran.
“Saudi Arabia and Iran play a very sensitive and vital role in the region,” he said, adding that the Kingdom believes in the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Prince Turki said Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes based on international regulations. He called for a settlement of ongoing dispute between Iran and the international community over the nuclear issue through political and diplomatic channels.
The relationship between the Gulf states and Iran has been somewhat strained amid concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program and comments made recently by an Iranian official that was perceived to be hostile toward the sovereignty of Bahrain.
At the UN General Assembly last year, Prince Saud urged Iran to comply with its nuclear obligations to spare the Middle East “devastating conflicts, futile arms races and serious environmental hazards.”
