Saudis, Iranians Must Work Harder to Stabilize Middle East – Steinmeier

erman Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Iran and Saudi Arabia bear a broader responsibility for the stability of the Middle East.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Riyadh and Tehran must shoulder responsibility for stability in the Middle East and put aside their differences to settle the crisis in Syria, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday.

The two regional rivals broke off diplomatic ties earlier this year after an outraged Iranian mob attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran following Riyadh’s decision to execute a prominent Shiite cleric.

In an article for the Security Times, a special edition covering the Munich Security Conference, Steinmeier said the Syrian conflict could only be stopped through diplomacy – and that involved more diplomatic efforts from the regional powers.

"There is still a very long way to go, and none of the steps ahead will be easy – the recent escalation between Saudi Arabia and Iran bears witness to that," Steinmeier said.

"But crises like these can and must be alleviated by diplomacy. Our message to Riyadh and Tehran is clear: Both countries bear a broader responsibility for the stability of the region," he continued.

The Sunni-ruled Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran support opposing factions in war-torn Syria and are considered key to the settlement of the five-year conflict.