Saudi FM describes talks with Iran as 'cordial'

LONDON - Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has said that talks with Iran had been "cordial," describing the negotiations as "exploratory, " the Financial Times reported on Friday.

"We are serious about the talks," bin Farhan told the FT in an interview. "For us it’s not that big a shift. We’ve always said we want to find a way to stabilise the region." 

Bin Farhan met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington and exchanged views on Iran's nuclear program and international talks on the matter, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"Had a productive meeting today with my friend Secretary Blinken, during which we discussed a range of issues of common interest & concern to both our nations & ways to strengthen our strategic partnership & cooperation on multiple fronts," Al Saud said in a twitter post on Friday.

He also met the US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, and discussed intensifying joint efforts against "Iranian violations of international treaties related to the nuclear agreement," the Saudi foreign ministry said.