ON TIES WITH SAUDI ARABIA, BALL IS IN IRAN’S COURT: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made it clear in an interview that his country wanted ‘good’ relations with Iran. He said: “Iran is a neighbouring country, and all we aspire for is a good and special relationship with Iran.” A rapprochement between the two major Middle East nations can have great dividends for the region. But for this vision to come to fruition, Tehran needs to take a few steps. Primarily, it needs to give up, once and for all, the pursuit of nuclear weapons. Secondly, it needs to stop its interference in the affairs of its Arab neighbours. The prospect of regional peace is an enticing one, and it is not beyond reach. The ball is in Iran’s court. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]
Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Reuters