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| - Iran on Thursday welcomed a "change of tone" from its regional rival Saudi Arabia whose de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued a call for good relations. The Islamic republic has been "a pioneer on the path to regional cooperation and welcomes the change of tone from Saudi Arabia", said foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh. The crown prince's call late Tuesday for "a good and special relationship" with Tehran came after sources said the two countries held secret talks in Baghdad. Khatibzadeh, in a statement, said that "by adopting constructive stances... the two countries... can enter a new chapter of interaction and cooperation to reach peace, stability and regional development, by overcoming differences". The neighbouring countries, locked in a fierce struggle for regional dominance, cut ties in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the kingdom's execution of a revered Shiite cleric. The Saudi crown prince has previously lashed out at Tehran, accusing it of fuelling regional insecurity. The talks in Baghdad, facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, remained secret until the Financial Times reported that a first meeting was held on April 9. An Iraqi government official confirmed the talks to AFP, while a Western diplomat said he had been "briefed in advance" about the effort to "broker a better relationship and decrease tensions". Riyadh has officially denied the talks in its state-backed media, while Tehran has stayed mum, asserting only that it has "always welcomed" dialogue with Saudi Arabia ap/kam/hc/hkb
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