Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Iran and Saudi Arabia have indicated a willingness to pursue diplomacy to end their disputes after Pakistan’s prime minister traveled to both countries. Tensions between the rival Middle Eastern states escalated following last month’s attack on the Saudi oil industry.
Qureshi said on Wednesday that both the Saudi and Iranian leadership indicated a willingness to talk after meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who traveled to Iran on Sunday and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, AP reported.
Khan’s mediation efforts come after Washington blamed the September 14 attack on Saudi oil fields on Iran, a charge which Tehran denies. The attack halved the kingdom’s oil production.
Since then, Khan has attempted to play the role of facilitator to arrange talks between Riyadh and Tehran.