Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi reportedly announced on October 12 that Iran will hold talks with Saudi Arabia with or without mediation by any other country. The statement comes before Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the country. As per reports, Mousavi was asked if Iran is expecting a mediation from Khan, to which he slyly replied that he is not aware of any mediation. He further said that Iran is ready for talks with the neighbors including Saudi Arabia to clarify misunderstandings. The Foreign Minister signaled this week that Iran would be willing to discuss regional issues with Saudi Arabia, but that Riyadh had to stop killing people. The middle east kingdom has said it prefers a political solution to a military one.

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Imran Khan's intent to visit Iran

Earlier two Pakistani officials had spoken to a news agency about Khan's intent of diffusing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. They further claimed that US President Donald Trump had asked Imran to help in the issue. Khan is due to arrive in Iran next week. As per officials of Pakistan, the premier is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, after which he would leave to meet the monarch in the Saudi Kingdom. 

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal confirmed Khan's upcoming trip. "The visits of the Imran Khan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are on the cards," he said. 

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Imran visiting on Crown Prince's behest

The Pakistan Prime Minister's visit comes at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Prince Salman reached out to Khan and Iran to ease the tensions in the Middle East soaring between Iran and Saudi Arabia and their allies, according to Pakistan media reports. Following the attacks on Aramco oil facilities on September 14, Riyadh has asked Islamabad and Baghdad to speak to the Iranian leadership about the hostility in the region.

It is reported that US President Donald Trump's denial to retaliate over the attack on Saudi Arabia's energy installment instigated Crown Prince to "seek its own solution to the conflict". The US media while quoting the unnamed Iraqi and Pakistani officials, said that the Crown Prince told Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan that "I want to avoid war" and asked him to mediate.

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(With agency inputs)