KSA ready to negotiate with Iran over regional issues

RIYADH-  Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said Tuesday(May 13th)  his country was ready to negotiate with Iran regarding conditions in the region, and hoped Tehran would contribute to achieving security and stability.

“An invitation has been sent to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit Saudi Arabia but the visit was not materialized … He can pay the visit at anytime he sees appropriate,” Prince Saud told a joint news conference while visiting Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby.

He hoped Iran would contribute to stability of countries of the region and not interfere in these countries’ internal affairs.

“Iran is a neighboring country and we have relations with it and we talk with them, and hope that any dispute between the two countries ends,” Prince Saud, speaking at the conclusion of the first session of the Forum on the Economy and Arab Cooperation with the Central Asian States and Azerbaijan, said.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are at loggerheads over the Syrian crisis, which broke out in March 2011. Saudi Arabia is also worried over last November interim agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, which paved way for addressing the West’s concerns in return of easing sanctions on Tehran.