Iran Says Security Pact with Saudi Ready to be Signed

Published January 2nd, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Iran and Saudi Arabia have ironed out the details for an historic security agreement as the two nations work toward moving on from their past difficulties, Tehran's interior minister, Abdol-Vahed Mussavi-Lari, said Tuesday. 

"The text of the agreement has been finalized by experts on both sides and will be signed during a visit by Saudi Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz," Mussavi-Lari told reporters. 

He gave no further details about the accord and there has as yet been no date set for the Saudi minister's visit. 

An Iranian delegation visited the kingdom in October, when Abdel-Aziz called on Tehran to give a "positive" response to the accord. 

President Mohammad Khatami, who visited Saudi Arabia in May, has worked to improve Tehran's relations with Riyadh since his 1997 election. 

Saudi's King Fahd has since officially invited Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to visit the kingdom for a pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites, the first such invitation since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. 

The two Gulf nations broke off relations for four years after more than 400 people were killed in 1987 clashes between Saudi security forces and Iranian pilgrims demonstrating against Israel and the United States -- TEHRAN (AFP)  

 

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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