TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign minister says his outreach to regional rival Saudi Arabia after the death of the kingdom’s ruler was “necessary”.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over multiple issues in the Middle East, including the ongoing civil war in Syria, turmoil in Yemen and protests in Bahrain.

However, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was among the first foreign dignitaries to visit Saudi Arabia following the death on Friday of King Abdullah.

Mr Zarif says he hopes his outreach to the Saudi government “prepares the ground for more cooperation in all areas in this very sensitive region based on good neighbourliness and rationalism.”

Mr Zarif made the comments on Sunday at a news conference in Tehran with Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic.

Meanwhile, state media reported on Sunday that Mr Zarif would appear before parliament following controversy over a promenade with his American counterpart during intense nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

Mr Zarif, who leads Tehran’s talks with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, had a 15-minute walk down Geneva sidewalks with US Secretary of State John Kerry during discussions on Jan 14.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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