ERBIL (Reuters) – A new round of talks will open on Wednesday between Saudi Arabia and arch-rival Iran in Iraq, the Iraqi foreign minister said on Saturday without giving further details.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein made the announcement at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey, local media reported. A spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry confirmed these statements to Reuters.
According to local media, this will be the fourth round of talks organized by Baghdad between officials from its two neighbours.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Diplomats hope talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia will signal an easing of tensions in the Middle East, after years of hostilities that have brought the region to the brink of full-scale conflict.
(Report Amina Ismail, with Aziz El Yaakoubi, written by Moataz Mohamed; French version Camille Raynaud)