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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said, his country is ready to restore ties with Saudi Arabia. In a speech today, Mr Rouhani said the regional rivals could have good relations if the Saudis end what he termed ‘false friendship’ with Israel and halt the bombardment of Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is battling Iranian-allied rebels known as Houthis.
Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January last year after Iranian demonstrators attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in response to the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite dissident cleric. Tensions spiked again last month after the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that was intercepted near Riyadh. Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel, but the two countries have a shared interest in countering Iran.