Saudi Arabia has stepped up direct engagement with Iran to try and contain a war in the Middle East that is causing havoc and stressing global markets, according to several European officials.
In recent days, Saudi officials have deployed their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with greater urgency to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from worsening, the officials said, asking not to be named discussing private and sensitive conversations.
Several European and Middle Eastern nations are backing these efforts, according to these officials.
The talks have involved both security agencies and diplomats, they added, but it wasn’t clear whether they had involved higher-ranking officials and, so far, Iran has shown little inclination to negotiate with the US or Israel.
Officials at the Saudi foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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