Saudi Change of Tone Welcome

A senior diplomat said Iran welcomes Saudi Arabia’s change of tone after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Riyadh wants good relations with Tehran.
“With constructive views and dialogue-oriented approach, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two important countries in the region and the Islamic world, can enter a new chapter of interaction and cooperation to achieve peace, stability and regional development by overcoming differences,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Thursday, ISNA reported.
Regional leaders also welcomed the Saudi crown prince’s overtures to Iran.
“We welcome the KSA initiative for peace with Iran. Iran is our neighbor and KSA our closest friend. This peace initiative will strengthen the Muslim Ummah,” Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet¸ Khaleej Times reported.  
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Prince Mohammed struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran, saying he sought “good” relations.
“Iran is a neighboring country and all we aspire for is a good and special relationship with Iran,” he said.
“We do not want Iran to be in a difficult situation; on the contrary, we want Iran to prosper and grow. We have interests in Iran and they have interests in the kingdom to propel the region and the world to growth and prosperity.”
“Our problem is with Iran’s negative behavior,” he contended, mentioning Tehran’s nuclear program, missiles program and support for allied forces around the region.
“We are working with our regional and global partners to find solutions to these problems and we hope to overcome them for good relations that benefit everyone,” he added.
Qatar also voiced support for the Saudi crown prince’s call for “normal relations” with Iran.
“We back His Highness Saudi Crown Prince’s call for a foreign policy based on principles of good neighborliness and dialogue in the region, including with Iran,” Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said on Twitter, Gulf News reported.
“Adhering to the UN charter, respect for sovereignty of states and non-interference in their affairs are fundamentals of the civilized countries,” the Qatari official added.
Riyadh cut off diplomatic links with Tehran in 2016 and repeatedly accused it of adopting “destabilizing” policies and supporting militias in the region, including Houthi forces in Yemen where Saudi Arabia is leading a military campaign. 
Riyadh also supported ex-US president, Donald Trump’s maximalist policy against Iran after withdrawing his country from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran.
Recently, Saudi Arabia also relented and improved ties with Qatar after a boycott of more than three years.