Tehran, Jan 16: Iran's top national security
official today said talks he held in Saudi Arabia were aimed
at improving understanding between Shiites and Sunnis in a bid
to boost security in the Middle East.
Ali Larijani told state television he had talked with
his counterpart Prince Bandar Bin Sultan about "bringing more
security to the region" and had also met with Foreign Minister
Saud al-Faisal and King Abdullah.
His trip to Riyadh, details of which are still
sketchy, came against a backdrop of bloodshed in Iraq between
majority Shiites and minority Sunnis, as well as political
tensions in multi-communal Lebanon.
"In any case, Iran and Saudi Arabia are influential
countries in the region and their ties help very much the
security and stability of the region," Larijani said.
"The cooperation between the two countries is
especially important for making a better atmosphere to bring
closer the communities of Shiites and Sunnis," he added.
"And we also discussed the necessary efforts to be
exerted by Iran and Saudi Arabia in this regard."
It was not clear exactly when he returned from his
trip which started Sunday.
Iran's population is overwhelmingly Shiite. Saudi
Arabia is a predominantly Sunni country although it also has a
minority community of Shiites concentrated in its eastern
province.
Iran has expressed concern over suggestions that Saudi
Arabia might intervene on the side of Iraq's Sunnis were the
United States to pull out of the war-torn country suddenly.
Saudi media said Larijani, who is Secretary of the
National Security Council, also delivered a letter from Iran's
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the Saudi King.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 00:00