The head of Iran�s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) announced that Iran and Saudi Arabia have begun negotiations on further developing the flight network between the two neighboring counties.






Talikng to the IRNA on Saturday, Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh said that flights are being conducted from 21 cities in Iran to Saudi Arabia as part of the hajj season, adding that the two sides are negotiating to launch bilateral flights out of the hajj pilgrimage season.

He said he had invited his Saudi counterpart to visit Iran for negotiations on the expansion of bilateral flights.

This invitation is aimed a creating an opportunity to examine common aviation issues as well as requests by Iranian airports and airlines to launch flights from different cities of Iran to Saudi Arabia, he added.

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in Beijing on March 10 to resume relations and reopen diplomatic missions within two months.

In a joint statement after signing the agreement, Tehran and Riyadh placed a premium on the need to respect the national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of one another.

They also agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in April 2001 and another accord reached in May 1998 to enhance economic, commercial, investment, technical, scientific, cultural, sports, and youth affairs cooperation.