Iranian talks with Saudi Arabia may signal thaw in relations

[flamingdem]

Source: Reuters in Dubai

Shia Muslim Iran and conservative Sunni kingdom, bitter rivals for influence in the Gulf, meet in New York

Iran and Saudi Arabia have held their first foreign minister-level meeting since the 2013 election of President Hassan Rouhani, official Iranian media have reported, signalling a possible thaw in relations between the rival Gulf powers.

Shia Muslim Iran and the conservative Sunni kingdom have been engaged in a bitter contest for influence in the region, evident in political and military struggles in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen.

The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, suggested after his meeting in New York with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, that the talks could lead to an improvement in relations.

“Both my Saudi counterpart and I believe that this meeting will be the first page of a new chapter in our two countries’ relations,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted Zarif as saying.
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“We hope that this new chapter will be effective in establishing regional and global peace and security and will safeguard the interests of Muslim nations across the world.“

IRNA reported that Prince Saud, in a reference to the advance of Islamic State (Isis) militants in Iraq and Syria, said he was aware of the sensitivity of the situation.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/22/iran-saudi-arabia-talks-thaw-relations

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Isis is uniting enemies.

[EEO]

1. Extremists usually do unite enemies. Then the extremists are taken out.

And the enemy of our enemy is gone. So let's get back to being enemies.

[MADem]

3. You are quite right. They'll never trust one another.

The line of succession from the Prophet is something that will NEVER be resolved. The Iranian ayatullahs are not going to give up their black turbans, and the Saudis are never going to say that there's merit in the Persian version of the family tree.

Also, there's that bit about wanting to push the House of Saud from Meccah and take control of the Holy Places. To the House of Saud, that's rather like Pat Robertson wanting to take over the Vatican.

[Gore1FL]

4. It's in both of their interests to tone things down.

The Egypt-Israeli peace has lasted for over 35 years. That's a much larger gap, I would think. They don't have to be friends. Not being enemies is a good beginning.

[Amonester]

5. Voice of reason!

Also, they both have to take heed at the "war" on climate change this species has to "start" & "win" otherwise, the next generation is doomed...

Maybe they should start thinking about what their kids will have to live through some day (like starting next December 2015...)

They're not all suicidal jerks, methinks.

[MADem]

6. Absolutely. They'll smile and give each other the sneaky hard-eye on occasion; that's the

best we can hope for! Even though they don't share the same language or cultural traditions, they do live in the same neighborhood and follow two separate branches of the same religion. A lot of Persians like to do the Hajj; some do it every few years as they can afford it. They're a tourist source, too, and a big 'un.

[grahamhgreen]

2. Good.

[freshwest]

7. This is good. Not perfect, but good enough.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, flamingdem.