Iranian official in Riyadh to talk ties

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Reza Sheibani has met with Saudi Arabian Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Jandan in Riyadh.

In the meeting, which was held on Monday, Sheibani emphasized the importance of increasing bilateral cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and said the expansion of Saudi-Iran relations is one of Tehran’s top priorities and would benefit the entire region.

Telephone conversations between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia prove that the two leaders are determined to expand bilateral relations, IRNA quoted Sheibani as saying.

He also thanked Saudi officials for their services to the hajj pilgrims and in particular to Iranian pilgrims.

Last week, at a meeting with the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that dialogue and cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh will elevate the position of Islamic countries in regional and international developments.

Saudi Ambassador Mohammed bin Abbas al-Kilabi told Mottaki that Tehran-Riyadh relations are significant and said Saudi Arabia is interested in expanding cooperation with Iran.