Saudi Arabia holds fresh round of talks with Iranian government

Meeting took place on September 21 coinciding with President Raisi's speech at UNGA

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell address journalists in Riyadh on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday it held a round of direct talks with Iran's new government last month, part of a process begun earlier this year to reduce tension between the Gulf rivals.

Saudi Arabia and Iran began talks in April, at a time when Washington and Tehran were discussing reviving a nuclear pact that Riyadh and its allies had opposed.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the latest round had taken place on September 21.

The date coincides with a speech by Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“These discussions are still in the exploratory phase. We hope they will provide a basis to address unresolved issues between the two sides and we will strive and work to realise that," he said in Riyadh during a joint press conference with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Prince Faisal was speaking during a visit to Riyadh by Mr Borrell, who said he had briefed his partners on the prospects for restarting the nuclear talks.

Saudi authorities did not disclose the location of the meeting with Iranian officials, or the level of representation, while Mr Borrell welcomed the talks.

Riyadh and Tehran have both said they hope the talks can ease tensions, while playing down expectations of a major diplomatic breakthrough. Iran did not immediately comment on the September 21 round of talks.

Iraqi sources said last month that officials from both countries had met recently in Baghdad.

July 14, 2015: Iran and six major world powers reached a nuclear deal, capping more than a decade of on-off negotiations. AFP

March 2016: Then presidential candidate Donald Trump says his number one priority is to dismantle the “disastrous deal” with Iran. He frequently refers to the agreement as the “worst deal ever” while campaigning. AFP

April 2018: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit the White House to try and persuade Trump to stick with the deal. Getty

May 8, 2018: Donald Trump announces the United States plans to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. Mr Trump holds up the document he signed reinstating sanctions, in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House. AFP

December 2018: Iran's Revolutionary Guard launch war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a day after its boats shadowed the US aircraft carrier John C Stennis through the strategic waterway. AP

February 2019: President Trump uses his State of the Union address to single Iran out as the “world’s leading state sponsor of terror”. EPA

April 2019: The US designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation. AFP

May 8, 2019: Iran announces a partial withdrawal from the deal. President Hassan Rouhani warns that after 60 days, the Islamic Republic would increase uranium enrichment level. EPA

The discussions, hosted by Iraq as it seeks to act as a regional mediator, were launched under Iran's former, moderate president Hassan Rouhani, who was replaced in August by Mr Raisi.

The talks have led to “serious progress” regarding Gulf security, Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on September 23.

Riyadh has said it would judge the government of Mr Raisi by the reality on the ground.

Former US President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement under which Iran had accepted curbs to its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.

Tehran responded by breaching some of its terms.

Indirect talks involving the US and Iran on reviving that pact were put on hold in June and have yet to resume under Mr Raisi. Western powers have urged Iran to return to the negotiations.