According to an outlet linked with the country’s top security body, Iran has “temporarily suspended” direct talks with Saudi Arabia.
Although the fifth round of talks between the two regional rivals was said to be hosted by Baghdad on Wednesday by Iraq’s foreign minister, news outlets affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said on Sunday that Iran has unilaterally suspended the talks.
Despite the lack of a reason behind the decision, the development comes a day after Saudi Arabia carried out the largest known mass execution in its modern history.
While they have downplayed expectations of a significant breakthrough, Riyadh and Tehran have said they hope the talks can ease tensions.
Following the execution of a prominent Shia religious leader by the Sunni-majority Kingdom, after which Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters, the two countries ended diplomatic ties in 2016.
The two countries also oppose each other in the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
