Austrian FM Hails Rapprochement between Iran, Saudi Arabia

It is a step toward easing tensions in the region, Schallenberg said in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian.

The Austrian foreign minister also congratulated the Iranian people and government on Nowruz.

He further expressed regret over the current state of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Europe and voiced hope that after removal of the hurdles, a  positive moment and dynamism be given to the relations between the two sides, the website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry reported.

Amirabdollahian thanked Schallenberg for congratulating him on Nowruz. He referred to the importance of diplomacy and dialogue, saying Iran welcomes any constructive initiative put forth by Austria which would be meant to soundly understand developments.

The Iranian foreign minister also thanked Austria for hosting the sanctions removal talks.

As for the ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Austria, Amirabdollahian pointed to the areas in which the two sides can cooperate, particularly in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, and called for expanding this cooperation as much as possible.

The top Iranian diplomat also spoke about the developments in Ukraine. He expressed hope that the war in Ukraine will quickly end, saying, “Just as the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has reiterated, the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly rejects claims that it is involved in the Ukraine war."

Amirabdollahian noted that Iran has time and again called on Ukraine to show damning proof about its claim that Iranian drones are involved in the war.