A UN official has said Iran has an important role to play in addressing regional disputes.
In an interview with Al Arabiya on Wednesday, UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said, “Iran is an actor on so many scenes; I myself have... worked with Iranian officials on Afghanistan for instance. I worked also earlier on other issues related to (Persian) Gulf security.”
“I would say that if we could have a constructive Iranian role on several issues related to region’s security, (it) would be a gain,” Eliasson said, noting that diplomatic exchanges between Iran and Saudi Arabia would help improve the security of the region.
“One of the most important dialogues that can take place today is the dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.
Eliasson added that the talks between Tehran and Riyadh “could have strategic significance and could also (have) a great significance in a time you see, in my view, exaggerated and absolutely unnecessary tensions between people of different beliefs."
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal held a meeting on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Zarif described his talks with Faisal as a “new page” in Tehran-Riyadh relations.
