Tehran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Saudi King Abdullah have had telephonic discussions on regional affairs for a second time within a fortnight, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on Thursday.
Last evening’s conversation comes at a time when the two regional arch-rivals are at odds over what is perceived as rising Iranian influence in Lebanese politics and protracted efforts to form a government in Iraq.
"In this telephone call, the heads of the two states discussed boosting bilateral cooperation, as well as recent developments in the region and in the international scene," IRNA reported.
Ahmadinejad and Abdullah last spoke to each other by telephone on October 12, one day before the Iranian leader went to Lebanon for a groundbreaking visit during which he was given a hero's welcome by Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah, which fought a devastating 2006 war with Israel.
The United States and Israel criticised the visit as a provocation and a threat to regional stability.
Washington labels Hezbollah, which is known as Iran's Shi’ite proxy in Lebanon, a terrorist organisation.
On Iraq, Saudi Arabia is widely believed to have supported former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi in elections held in March.
Analysts believe Riyadh see Allawi's rival, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, as being too close to Iran. Maliki was on Monday in Tehran where he urged the Islamic republic to help rebuild his war-battered country.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 16:34