Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal arrived in Tehran Saturday for a one-day visit and was welcomed at Mehrabad International Airport by his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi.
Speaking to reporters upon arrival, al-Faisal said that his visit is aimed at examining the stances of the two Islamic states on a wide range of issues. He added he was also carrying a written message from Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz for Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.
"Ways of expanding the two countries' relations as well as Middle East issues, including those relating to Iraq and Palestine, will be discussed in meetings with the Iranian officials," al-Faisal was quoted as saying. "Our stance is one with Iran over the (planned) American military attack against Iraq," he conveyed.
"Our stand with Saudi Arabia is one in the sense that the Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to any military attack on Arab and Islamic countries," Kharrazi said, according to IRNA. The Iranian foreign minister added, "Since both countries wish to seize every opportunity to expand their cooperation, ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation as well as latest international and regional developments will be examined in this trip."
Kharrazi expressed the hope that "consultations will lead to further expansion of cooperation between the two countries and leave positive effects on regional developments."
Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have improved since the 1997 election of Khatami, after nearly two decades of political and ideological tensions. Khatami made a historic trip to Saudi Arabia in 1999. (Albawaba.com)
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