Iran says future of bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia 'bright, promising'

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday the future of relations between his country and Saudi Arabia was "bright and promising."

He made the remarks at a press conference in the Iranian capital of Tehran, while commenting on political and economic relations between Tehran and Riyadh.

Kanaani said bilateral relations were moving on the "right and natural" track, while talks and consultations were ongoing at different levels.

He stressed that economic issues have been on both countries' agendas since the resumption of bilateral relations in March 2023, when China brokered an agreement to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies and missions.

Kanaani added the two countries were still holding talks on economic issues, saying fresh visits headed by senior delegations to each other's countries prepared the ground for expanding bilateral economic relations.

He mentioned the presence of a Saudi economic delegation at Iran Expo 2024, which is currently taking place in Tehran, as well as two Iranian delegations respectively headed by Finance Minister Ehsan Khandouzi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Khandouzi is scheduled to take part in an Islamic Development Bank meeting, while Safari is expected to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Iran and Saudi Arabia formally declared in April of last year the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016, in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. The attacks were in response to Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite cleric.