Iran ready for 'changes' over Saudi Arabia ties

Tehran, Dec 28: Iran's foreign ministry on Monday announced that Tehran is fully ready for changes in its relations with Saudi Arabia on regional issues.

"If there is a serious will in Saudi official, Iran is fully ready for the change in the current climate of bilateral relations so that it meets the interests of both countries," spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said.

The improvement of bilateral ties can pave the way for adaptation of serious measures to settle the crises in the Middle East region, he said.

Earlier, the spokesman said that Iran was ready to reformulate its relations with neighbours to find ways for problems in the region, which would benefit both Iran and the regional countries.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran was ready for talks with Saudi Arabia for the good of the region and to solve problems inflicted on the regional countries.

Saudi Arabia has long accused Iran of arming and financing Houthi Shia fighters in Yemen, which was strongly rejected by Tehran.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are also divided over a number of other regional issues including the situations in Syria, Bahrain and Iraq.

IANS