Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Iran FM and head of Saudi-based OIC hold rare direct talks

Iran FM and head of Saudi-based OIC hold rare direct talks

Iran's Foreign Minister has held talks with the head of the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, in a further indication that Saudi-Iran ties are warming.
The first talks in four years between an Iranian foreign minister and the head of the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) took place on Monday, a sign of warming ties between Riyadh and Tehran.

Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke by phone to current OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen about events in Afghanistan, The New Arab's Arabic sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, said on Tuesday.

Al-Othaimeen was previously Saudi Minister of Social Affairs.

The talks between an OIC chief and a leading Iranian official is seen as an important step in efforts to broker a reconciliation between Tehran and Riyadh.

The two countries broke off diplomatic ties nearly five years ago and the OIC has long been seen as a Saudi-dominated organisation.

Earlier this week, Iran and Saudi Arabia exchanged trade for the first time since diplomatic ties were cut.

Amir-Abdollahian expressed appreciation to Al-Othaimeen for helping Iran to re-open its representative office to the OIC in Jeddah. The office had been closed since 2017.

Tehran and Riyadh broke off diplomatic relations in 2016 after an angry backlash in Iran over the execution of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr Al-Nimr.

During talks with Al-Othaimeen, Amir-Abdollahian also warned that "extremist currents are one of the most important problems", for the OIC urging the organization to "play a more active role in Afghanistan".

This was in reference to an Islamic State suicide attack on Shia Muslim worshippers at an Afghan mosque last week which left dozens dead.

Al-Othaimeen condemned the attack, adding that is crucial for an inclusive government to be formed in Kabul that respects women's rights.

The country cannot be turned into a "safe place for terror groups", he said.

The OIC secretary-general said IS wants to spread "sectarian division in Afghanistan" and that the Islamic body "does not differentiate between those of different Islamic schools".

"All Muslims enjoy equal citizenship rights, and it is not permissible whatsoever to target Muslims and worshippers from any sect with terrorist attacks," he explained.

Tehran and Riyadh have held four rounds of reconciliation talks so far, with one of these under the new government of President Ebrahim Raisi, which was formed towards the end of August.

It is expected more rounds of talks will take place soon.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×