Bilateral issues and oil prices discussed by King Fahd and Rafsanjani

In remarks on talks to improve relations between their countries, Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and former Iranian President Hashami Rafsanjani on Saturday said they discussed regional and bilateral issues, the reduction in oil prices, and expressed hope that the UN chief would succeed in evading Iraq the US military strike.

The Iranian news agency IRNA said King Fahd told Rafsanjani that being the two main powers in the region, Iran and Saudi Arabia should cooperate in all matters serving mutual interests, including oil and regional issues.

IRNA quoted Rafsanjani as saying that reaching understanding among OAPEC member states would prevent a decrease in oil prices.

Meanwhile, the Saudi News Agency said the two leaders discussed relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and bilateral issues. Rafsanjani also met with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, who visited Tehran in December 1997 to take part in the 8th Islamic summit conference.

Both Iranian and Saudi media described the visit as substantial in efforts to establish firm relations between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the Lebanese daily al-Nahar said.