The Iranian diplomat noted that Iran has taken steps to initiate consultations with Saudi Arabia as an important country, adding that the Islamic Republic is “optimistic” about the future of talks with the Persian Gulf kingdom, IRNA reported.
Asked about the fruitfulness of those steps, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is optimistic about the continuation of these talks and the future of bilateral consultations.
"We believe that Tehran and Riyadh have the necessary potential to help countries exposed to the threat of terrorism in the region,” he said.
Amir-Abdollahian also described terrorism as the main threat facing the Middle East.
He said certain foreign states seek to fuel regional tensions by causing tribal, ethnic and religious rifts.
“The existence of weak or ineffective countries" has exacerbated terrorism and extremism in the region.
He said terrorist Takfiri groups, which are linked to foreign intelligence services, have turned into a tool of certain countries, which poses a challenge to peace, stability and security in the Middle East.
Amir-Abdollahian also reaffirmed Iran’s support for comprehensive talks as a key solution to the tensions in Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.
The Iranian official called on foreign powers to refrain from interfering in regional issues, while urging the regional countries to respect their people’s demands.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran supports countries in their campaign against terrorism.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister warned against the threat of extremism in regional countries, including Bahrain.
He said the Bahraini regime’s resort to violence against protesters has further increased insecurity in the tiny monarchy, stressing that instability in Bahrain would benefit neither the Arab country nor the entire region.
Since February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for political reforms.
Manama’s heavy-handed crackdown on protesters has turned people’s demands for reforms into calls for the downfall of the regime.
Scores of people have been killed ever since and hundreds of others injured in the regime’s ongoing crackdown on peaceful anti-government rallies. The Bahraini regime has also detained many protesters.
