Talks for Direct Flights Between Tehran and Riyadh

An Iranian official revealed to the Iranian Labor News Agency today, Sunday, that Iran and Saudi Arabia will hold official talks next week to resume direct flights between Tehran and Riyadh and other cities. The Iranian Labor News Agency reported Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh as stating, "There are no restrictions on operating direct flights between Tehran and Riyadh or other cities." He added, "A bilateral working group will begin final negotiations next week for non-hajj flights between the two countries." Mohammadi Bakhsh confirmed that the resumption of flights will include travel for Umrah pilgrims throughout the year as well as travel for non-religious purposes. He mentioned that Iran has already provided a list of airlines that could operate the flights but did not specify any of them. Regular flights would be another step toward restoring relations between the two conflicting poles in the Middle East. Currently, there have been no regular direct flights between the two countries for years; only occasional direct flights from Iran to transport pilgrims are currently operating.