Archrivals Saudi, Iran held secret talks: report

Senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks in an effort to repair relations between the two countries, four years after cutting off diplomatic ties, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

The first round of talks took place in Baghdad on April 9, included discussions about attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group, and was positive, the FT reported, citing officials briefed on the discussions.

The report also cited a senior Saudi official, however, denying that any talks had taken place.

The two regional rivals severed ties in 2016 over Riyadh’s execution of Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the ruling Al Saudi family.

Meetings amid new nuclear talks

The talks took place as Washington and Tehran try to revive a 2015 nuclear accord, which Riyadh has objected to.

The US is also pressing for an end to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which is seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Riyadh has called for a nuclear pact with stronger parameters and has said that Gulf Arab states should join any negotiations on the accord to ensure that it addresses Tehran's missile program and its support for regional proxies.

Former US President Donald Trump quit the nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 -- a move that Saudi Arabia and its allies supported.

Iran responded to the sanctions by breaching several restrictions on its nuclear activities.

The nuclear agreement's remaining signatories — Iran, the EU, Germany, France, the UK, Russia and China — have been holding talks in Vienna to pave the way for the US to rejoin.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has also previously indicated that he wants to cool hostilities with  Arab rivals.

Iran announces progress on uranium

On Friday, Iran announced that it had started enriching uranium up to 60% purity, in the latest move to boost its nuclear capabilities.

The alleged enrichment level is now at its highest level, and follows a sabotage incident at Iran's Natanz nuclear plant the week prior.

Although 60% enrichment of uranium is a record high for Iran, it is still below the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons.

The announcement marked a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and casts doubt over the chances of finding a middle ground on the nuclear deal.

The change in enrichment was both an effort to convince other countries to come to the negotiating table and discuss its nuclear program, as well as a response to the act of sabotage at Natanz, which Iran blames on Israel.

lc/mm (Reuters, dpa)