Saudi Arabia asks Pakistan, Iraq to intervene in conflict with Iran

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reached out to Iraq and Pakistan in a bid to defuse tensions in Middle East amid an escalating conflict with foe, Iran. Consequent to attack on two oil facilities of Saudi on September 14, Riyh has asked Islamab and Baghd to speak to Iranian leership, as hostility in region, according to New York Times. According to international reports, it was after US President Donald Trump's denial to retaliate over attack on Saudi Arabia's energy installment, that instigated Crown Prince to "seek its own solution to conflict."

NYT, while quoting unnamed Iraqi and Pakistani officials, said that MBS told Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan that "I want to avoid war" and asked him to mediate. Khan visited Saudi Arabia from September 19 to 20. When Iraq's Prime Minister el Abdul Mahdi visited Jeddah on September 25, crown prince me a similar request.

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Welcoming gesture by Kingdom, Iran stated privately and publicly that it was open to talks with Saudi Arabia. Speaker of Iran's Parliament told Al Jazeera, "Iran is open to starting a dialogue with Saudi Arabia and or countries in region. An Iranian-Saudi dialogue could solve many of region's security and political problems"

attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facility Aramco was claimed by Yemen-based Houthis, however, Riyh and ally Washington, both pinned blame on Iran for attacks. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been opponents of various wars in Middle East, including brutal conflicts in Yemen and Syria. 

Iran-US relations 

Despite calling attack an "act of war," Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that he preferred a peaceful solution to ongoing conflict inste of a military confrontation with Iran. Mohammed bin Salman furr suggested that US President Donald Trump must meet with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani to draft a new nuclear deal. 

During UN General Assembly in New York last week, that found Presidents of both Iran and United States under one roof, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson both could be seen convincing Hassan Rouhani to meet with Donald Trump. 

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"What is important is that if he leaves country without meeting with President Trump, this is a lost opportunity. Because you will t come back to US and President Trump will t go to Tehran" said Macron, as Johnson agreed with him.

(With ANI inputs)