Pakistani PM visits Saudi Arabia, Iran to ease tensions

Officials from Hamas argued about how to react to the proposal, according to the report, with the heads of the organization in the Gaza Strip supporting normalization of ties with Iran while Qatar-based politburo chief Khaled Mashaal was reluctant to commit.

“The Saudis now manage to rally countries behind them both on financial grounds and the argument of non-interference”, a diplomat said.

They will meet the Iranian president and Saudi king during their visits and try all-out to resolve the ongoing Saudi-Iran diplomatic row.

CNPC, parent of PetroChina, is also restructuring its Middle East operations, aiming to offer more integrated services from exploration to engineering, a company source said.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday left here for Saudi Arabia where he will discuss regional and worldwide issues with the leadership.

The swift release last week of U.S. Navy sailors after they drifted into Iranian waters marked the new era in relations following decades of hostility with the West.

Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran back opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Mr Al-Jubeir said: “With regards to the perception of Saudi Arabia among the British public, this is a problem that we need to work on”.

The foreign minister’s comments come after global outcry over the Saudi kingdom’s execution of 47 prisoners in one day earlier this month.

The statement further said Pakistan believes in brotherly relations among the OIC member states.

The hiccup over the American sailors was easily contained by the new rapprochement and “summarizes the emergence of a new relationship between Washington and Tehran”, said Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert at the London School of Economics.

Riyadh snapped diplomatic relations with Tehran after its embassy in Iran was set ablaze by protesters. He said Iran creates and supports terrorist groups that spread violence in the Middle East.

Several other Arab states such as neighboring Bahrain, a long-time close ally and recipient of Saudi largesse also cut ties. In November, Israel announced that it plans to open a diplomatic mission to the International Renewable Energy Agency in the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Defence Minister said that Pakistan is highly important for Saudi Arabia and it appreciates Pakistan’s efforts for ensuring regional security.

Whether these rational arguments can sway opinions and policies at a time when passions are aflame in the Middle East is another thing.