The Times of Israel reports:

Five years after severing diplomatic ties, Iran and Saudi Arabia have reportedly been holding direct talks in Baghdad to mend relations and end the Yemen civil war.

A Financial Times report on Sunday, which cited three officials familiar with the negotiations, said a first round of talks was held on April 9, with additional discussions slated for next week.

The talks were described as positive.

“It’s moving faster because the US talks are moving faster and [because of] the Houthi attacks,” an unnamed official said, referring to indirect negotiations between the Biden administration and Tehran over its nuclear program, and stepped-up attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, respectively.

However, according to the Reuters news agency, which cited several officials from both sides, no breakthrough was reached. [Continue reading…]