‘We are not natural-born enemies of Iran,’ Saudi UN envoy says

The last time Saudi Arabia broke off ties with Iran, after its embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters in 1988, it took a swing in the regional power balance in the form of Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait to heal the rift.

THE UNITED NATIONS – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Saudi Arabia and Iran to support peace efforts in Syria and Yemen and avoid escalating tensions.

The statement was released after the envoy met with the Saudi foreign minister in Riyadh.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – The oil-rich country of seven emirates says it will reduce the number of diplomats in Iran, recall its ambassador and focus only on business relations.

Iran’s president says Saudi Arabia “cannot cover its crime” in executing a Shiite cleric by severing ties with the Islamic Republic.

In addition to Kerry, other senior USA diplomats were in close contact with Saudi and Arab officials over the weekend, according to the US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the delicate diplomacy. It’s unclear whether Russian officials have made a formal offer to work with the two nations.

“The Revolutionary Guard is part of the Iranian government and their threats should be taken seriously because they control militia in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen and I would not be surprised if they use it to act against the Saudis”, said Abdulaziz al-Sager, head of Jeddah-based Gulf Research Centre.

“Ultimately, solutions to problems in this region must come from leaders in this region”, Kirby told reporters.

He said Ankara was “ready to make any effort” to help.

Bilateral trade between Iran and Saudi Arabia reached $172.5 million (159.7 million euros) during the first eight months of the Iranian year that began on March 20, 2015. That cooperation has shown gains in recent weeks, notably with the Iraqi recapture of the provincial capital of Ramadi.

Also of concern is the state of the Syrian peace effort, which is supposed to swing into high gear in late January with U.N.-sponsored negotiations between Saudi-backed opposition forces and the Iran-supported government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. There was no immediate indication that those talks would be disrupted, the official said. Saudi Arabia has severed diplomatic ties with Iran amid a dispute over Riyadh’s execution of an opposition Shiite cleric.

Saudi authorities arrested him in 2009 after he criticised them and said the Eastern Province should secede if Saudi Shias’ rights were not respected. “It is so clearly in the interests of both countries to advance a political solution to the situation inside of Syria”.

Kuwait said Tuesday the embassy attacks “represent a flagrant breach of worldwide agreements and norms and a grave violation of Iran’s global commitments”.

Also on Monday, Saudi Arabia’s UN Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi said that the two countries would have “normal relations” if Iran “cease and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, including our own”.

Saudi Arabia has supported Egypt as it struggles with a growing insurgency and economic downturn.