MEDINA -- Iran's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ali-Asqar Khaji said here on Wednesday that while numerous factors such as religious beliefs, geographical vicinity, regional interests, the decisive role of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the world of Islam and promotion of regional and global peace and stability account for close mutual ties, there is no reason for not broadening them further.

Khaji who left Riyadh for Medina this morning to welcome the head of Iranian pilgrims was replying to questions posed by IRNA.

He underlined that Iran and Saudi Arabia have reached mutual understanding on cooperation in various fields.

The ambassador put the trade exchange between the two nations at U.S.$280 million and added that besides many goods are exchanged via third countries especially the United Arab Emirates.

Khaji expressed Tehran-Riyadh current economic and trade relations, their regional and global cooperation and their status within the framework of OPEC as excellent in the course of history.

The Iranian diplomat referred to President Mohammad Khatami's visit to Saudi Arabia in 2002, mutual exchange of views on Iraq crisis, Iran's fifth exclusive trade and industrial fair in Riyadh, increasing number of Saudi citizens visiting Iran and close cooperation between the two states on the issue of Haj as other signs marking expansion of bilateral ties.