Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran will reopen its embassy in Riyadh.

Mr Amir-Abdollahian announced this at a meeting with the visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Tehran.

“We appreciate the Iraqi government for its efforts to encourage dialogue among regional countries and its constructive role in the normalisation talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Middle East countries,” he said.

Mr Amir-Abdollahian said Iran maintained that the solution to regional problems was within the region.

He added that Iran backed the continuation of the ceasefire in Yemen, highlighting the necessity of lifting the siege on the Arab state.

He noted that given the commonalities between Iran and Egypt, improving relations between Tehran and Cairo would be in the region’s interest and the Muslim world.

Mr Al-Kadhimi assured his host that Iraq would continue its efforts to encourage dialogue and cooperation among regional states.

Mr Al-Kadhimi arrived in Tehran early Sunday for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials following his trip to Saudi Arabia, where he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.

To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year and a fifth round in April this year. 

(Xinhua/NAN)