Germany seeks to alleviate Iranian-Saudi tensions

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to travel to Saudi Arabia and Iran this week to help alleviate tensions between the two countries, a government spokesperson said yesterday.

During a press conference in Berlin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said that the visit comes at a time when the opposing parties in the five-year Syrian conflict are continuing their discussions, under international auspices, in Geneva. Riyadh and Tehran back opposing parties.

“We would like to help prevent an escalation of tensions in the region, especially the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” Schaefer explained. He noted that Germany will propose what he called “reference points” that may bring the two sides together.