This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6415605.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Saudi king meets Iranian leader | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has left Saudi Arabia after a brief visit for rare talks between the two Middle Eastern powers. | |
| His discussions with King Abdullah in Riyadh focused on regional issues including Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinians, correspondents say. | |
| Mr Ahmadinejad said the two nations wanted to "expand our stable ties". | Mr Ahmadinejad said the two nations wanted to "expand our stable ties". |
| The meeting comes at a time of tension over regional conflicts and a growing divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims. | |
| Correspondents say the fact that the meeting is taking place at all is an indicator of Iran's growing influence. | Correspondents say the fact that the meeting is taking place at all is an indicator of Iran's growing influence. |
| Arriving in the Saudi capital, where he was met by the king, Mr Ahmadinejad said the two countries would address their common interests. | Arriving in the Saudi capital, where he was met by the king, Mr Ahmadinejad said the two countries would address their common interests. |
| "We will discuss with King Abdullah the joint work that we have to carry out in the Islamic world and the region," he said. | "We will discuss with King Abdullah the joint work that we have to carry out in the Islamic world and the region," he said. |
| "Iran and Saudi Arabia are two significant countries whose relations in recent years have been expanding and developing, and we are interested in expanding our stable ties." | "Iran and Saudi Arabia are two significant countries whose relations in recent years have been expanding and developing, and we are interested in expanding our stable ties." |
| Watching anxiously | Watching anxiously |
| Iran is a rising power bolstered by the removal by the US of its two great enemies - the Taleban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says. | Iran is a rising power bolstered by the removal by the US of its two great enemies - the Taleban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says. |
| Iran's Shia allies are now the dominant force in Iraq, while Tehran's influence is spreading more widely into Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. | Iran's Shia allies are now the dominant force in Iraq, while Tehran's influence is spreading more widely into Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. |
| Sunni-ruled states like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are watching Iran's rise with a degree of anxiety, our correspondent adds. | Sunni-ruled states like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are watching Iran's rise with a degree of anxiety, our correspondent adds. |
| In both Lebanon and Iraq, Tehran and Riyadh find themselves aligned with groups on opposite sides of the political battle lines. | In both Lebanon and Iraq, Tehran and Riyadh find themselves aligned with groups on opposite sides of the political battle lines. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad said that if Lebanon requested Iranian help to "assist its national unity and independence, then we are ready to help". | Mr Ahmadinejad said that if Lebanon requested Iranian help to "assist its national unity and independence, then we are ready to help". |
| On the other hand, he addressed US accusations that Iran was meddling in Iraq, saying: "We should allow the Iraqis to implement their decisions and enforce security themselves." | On the other hand, he addressed US accusations that Iran was meddling in Iraq, saying: "We should allow the Iraqis to implement their decisions and enforce security themselves." |
| It makes sense for the Saudis and the Iranians to meet as neither country has an interest in a Sunni-Shia rivalry in the region getting out of control, our correspondent says. | It makes sense for the Saudis and the Iranians to meet as neither country has an interest in a Sunni-Shia rivalry in the region getting out of control, our correspondent says. |
| Indeed, the fact that this bilateral meeting comes ahead of a wider multilateral gathering on Iraq suggests that some sort of new understanding just might be in the works, he says. | Indeed, the fact that this bilateral meeting comes ahead of a wider multilateral gathering on Iraq suggests that some sort of new understanding just might be in the works, he says. |