Tehran: Iran has decided to temporarily suspend its secret Baghdad-broker talks aimed at easing years of tension with regional rival Saudi Arabia, Iranian state-linked media reported on Sunday. Saudi Arab carried out its largest known mass execution in its modern history.
Iranian news website nornewsclose to the country supreme national security councilThe government has unilaterally halted talks with Saudi Arabia, which have been going on in Baghdad for the past year, aimed at restoring diplomatic ties.
Iraq’s foreign minister had earlier said that the fifth round of talks between Saudi and Iranian representatives was due to resume on Wednesday.
The report did not give a reason for Iran’s suspension, but it comes after Saudi Arabia executed 81 people convicted of crimes ranging from murders to belonging to terrorist groups, a group that activists believe. That includes more than three dozen Shia.
Shias, who live mainly in the oil-rich east of the kingdom, have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens. The executions of Shias by Saudi Arabia have sparked regional unrest in the past.
Iran, the world’s largest Shia Muslim country, and Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties in 2016 after killing Saudi Arabia’s leading Shia cleric. nimr al-nimro, Angry Iranians opposed to the executions stormed two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, sparking years of hostility between the nations.
Late on Saturday, sporadic protests broke out among Shiites in the nearby island state of Bahrain over the mass executions.
Baghdad-mediated talks between regional enemies begin peacefully IraqSaudi Arabia as capital last year sought a way to end its disastrous war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a conflict that has sparked the world’s worst humanitarian disaster and has hit Saudi airports and oil facilities. Rebel drones and missiles rained down.
Iran-backed militias have also attacked Saudi targets and launched drones against the kingdom from Iraq.
The pause in diplomatic talks between countries long competing for influence in the Middle East comes at a tense time for the region. On Sunday, a missile attack landed around the US consulate in Iraq’s northern city of Irbil, with a US defense official saying the attack came from neighboring Iran.
Talks with world powers to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal broke down without a deal last week, fueling uncertainty over months of talks that had almost reached a breakthrough. (AP)
Iranian news website nornewsclose to the country supreme national security councilThe government has unilaterally halted talks with Saudi Arabia, which have been going on in Baghdad for the past year, aimed at restoring diplomatic ties.
Iraq’s foreign minister had earlier said that the fifth round of talks between Saudi and Iranian representatives was due to resume on Wednesday.
The report did not give a reason for Iran’s suspension, but it comes after Saudi Arabia executed 81 people convicted of crimes ranging from murders to belonging to terrorist groups, a group that activists believe. That includes more than three dozen Shia.
Shias, who live mainly in the oil-rich east of the kingdom, have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens. The executions of Shias by Saudi Arabia have sparked regional unrest in the past.
Iran, the world’s largest Shia Muslim country, and Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties in 2016 after killing Saudi Arabia’s leading Shia cleric. nimr al-nimro, Angry Iranians opposed to the executions stormed two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, sparking years of hostility between the nations.
Late on Saturday, sporadic protests broke out among Shiites in the nearby island state of Bahrain over the mass executions.
Baghdad-mediated talks between regional enemies begin peacefully IraqSaudi Arabia as capital last year sought a way to end its disastrous war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a conflict that has sparked the world’s worst humanitarian disaster and has hit Saudi airports and oil facilities. Rebel drones and missiles rained down.
Iran-backed militias have also attacked Saudi targets and launched drones against the kingdom from Iraq.
The pause in diplomatic talks between countries long competing for influence in the Middle East comes at a tense time for the region. On Sunday, a missile attack landed around the US consulate in Iraq’s northern city of Irbil, with a US defense official saying the attack came from neighboring Iran.
Talks with world powers to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal broke down without a deal last week, fueling uncertainty over months of talks that had almost reached a breakthrough. (AP)