U.S. hopes Saudi Arabia may restore diplomatic ties with IranJanuary 23, 2016 - 08:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States hopes that Saudi Arabia may restore diplomatic ties with Iran, a senior State Department official said on Friday, Jan 22, ahead of Secretary of State John Kerry's Saturday visit to Riyadh, Reuters reports. Tensions between bitter regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran escalated this month after Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on its Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties. However, the U.S. official said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement of regret this week over the embassy storming, which Riyadh accused Tehran of tacitly encouraging, was "significant". Iran denies the allegation. "Hopefully, maybe that will open up the possibility that the situation will resolve and that the Saudis will find their way forward in reopening their embassy in Tehran," he said, according to Reuters. The official added the United States had no plans to engage on the issue of facilitating a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, and that Washington - which has no diplomatic ties with Tehran - was not well placed to do so. He added that Kerry had emphasized to the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers the importance of reconciliation and that Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who visited Riyadh this week, also discussed this with Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia and Iran accuse each other of fomenting instability across the Middle East and Riyadh regards Iran's backing for Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as a threat to its own security. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said in several interviews this month that full relations cannot be restored until Iran changes its behavior and acts like a normal state rather than like "a revolution". Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |