DUBAI (Dispatches) -- Saudi Arabia is seeing some progress on dialogue with Iran, but not enough, the kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud has told. In the meantime, the minister says it is eager to improve the two countries’ relationship.
“Our hands are stretched out. We are trying to send the message that going into a new era of cooperation in the region can deliver benefits for all of us,” Prince Faisal told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The minister said that in terms of dialogue with Iran, Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states “have made some progress, but not enough.”
Saudi Arabia, along with its close ally the United Arab Emirates, have expressed criticism and skepticism over the Joe Biden administration’s pursuit of the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“Now of course the JCPOA, if it, happens will be potentially a good thing if its a good deal,” Prince Faisal added. “But for us, it is most important that we address the holistic issues — the nuclear nonproliferation, regional activity — and that can be done, but it needs a sincere desire to look to the future rather than the past.”
Earlier this year, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his country was ready for more talks with Saudi Arabia. “Iran is ready to continue these negotiations until reaching an outcome, provided that the Saudis are willing to continue the negotiations in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect,” Raisi said in a call with Iraq’s prime minister in February.
Leaders of Iraq have hosted several rounds of direct talks between Saudi and Iranian diplomats over the last year. Both countries have expressed cautious optimism about the discussions.