Saudi Official-Resuming Ties w/Iran Does Not Make Us Allies

Wires carrying comments from an unnamed Saudi official talking on the resumption of diplomatic relations with Iran announced last week. In comments that could dampen some of the more exuberant reactions to the resumption of ties, the official stated that, "Resuming diplomatic relations with Iran does not mean we are allies."

• Saudi official: China has leverage on Iran and Tehran will find it difficult to explain if agreement with Riyadh is not honoured.
• Saudi official: Iran's nuclear deal was not discussed in Beijing.
• Saudi official: Most difficult topics in talks with Iran were Yemen, media, and role of China.
• Separately, speaking at the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan stated that Saudi investments in Iran 'could happen very quickly' following the agreement being finalised. "There are a lot of opportunities for Saudi investments in Iran. We don't see impediments as long as the terms of any agreement would be respected,"

The official's comments come as the UN Yemen special envoy Hans Grundberg talks up the prospect of a deal being reached between Saudi and Iran, each engaged in backing opposite sides in the long-running Yemeni civil war. Grundberg called on both sides to 'seize the opportunity' to take decisive steps towards peace afforded by the resumption in tied. The Yemeni civil war remains one of the major dividing lines in Middle Eastern politics, with the conflict resisting significant UN efforts to broker a peace deal for a number of years. This has acted as a continued wedge between Tehran and Riyadh.