TEHRAN: A senior Iranian official is in Saudi Arabia to try to repair strained relations between the two Gulf countries, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian flew to the desert kingdom on Monday to meet Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and discuss "matters of common interest", the reports said.
No further information was immediately available about the trip, the first by a high-level official since Hassan Rouhani became the Islamic republic's president in August last year.
"It is a step towards improving relations between Tehran and Riyadh," Iran's financial daily Donya-e Eghtessad wrote.
Amir Abdollahian had visited Riyadh in June, but that was for a meeting of the Saudi-based Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The authorities in Saudi Arabia had invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, but he declined, citing the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 powers.
Donya-e Eghtessad also quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying a Zarif trip to Riyadh should "be prepared and protocol must be respected".
Rouhani has stated his wish to improve relations with Iran's neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's other regional heavyweight.
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