The Saudi regent was interviewed by a local channel and clarified that his country strives to have a prosperous relationship with the Islamic Republic • The goal, he said, is to "protect the region and the world"
Ben Salman, Saudi Crown Prince
Photo:
Reuters
Saudi Arabia is interested in establishing "good and excellent" ties with Iran, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said this week during an interview with a television channel.
According to the prince, he is interested in a prosperous Iran and its negative behavior towards neighboring countries should be influenced.
These statements come six years after the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and in recent weeks the attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Saudi territory have intensified.
Against the backdrop of the war in Yemen that has been going on since 2015, the Houthis are launching trapped UAVs attacking airports and oil facilities in the heart of the Arab kingdom.
"We do not want Iran's situation to be difficult," Ben Salman said, adding: "On the contrary, we want Iran to develop and have common interests to protect the region and the world for development and prosperity."
The Saudi heir later explained that what makes it difficult for Saudi Arabia is Iran's conduct, including the nuclear program, aid to law-abiding militias in some of the region's countries and the ballistic missile program.
Later in the interview, the Saudi Crown Prince called on the Houthi militia to sit down at the negotiating table to reach solutions that would benefit everyone's rights in Yemen and ensure the interests of the countries in the region.
He further claimed that Saudi Arabia's first target was to reach a ceasefire in exchange for financial assistance and whatever the Houthis would want.
"There is no doubt that the Houthis have a strong connection with the Iranian regime, but the Houthis in the end are also Yemeni."
Ben Salman expressed hope that the militia would consider the interests of Yemen.
This signal comes after a meeting between senior Saudi and Iranian officials in Iraq earlier this month. According to a report in the Reuters news agency, the parties discussed the crisis in Yemen and the nuclear agreement. It was also said that the dialogue was led by the Saudi intelligence chief and deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. A diplomatic source in Riyadh noted that another meeting is expected to take place at the end of the month or the beginning of May.
