RIYADH, May 7 (Xinhua) -- A Saudi foreign ministry official has confirmed that talks are being held between Saudi Arabia and Iran with the aim of reducing regional tensions, Al Arabiya TV reported Friday.

The outcome of the talks were too early to be judged as Riyadh wanted to see "verifiable deeds," said Rayed Krimly, head of policy planning at the ministry.

"We hope they prove successful, but it is too early, and premature, to reach any definitive conclusions," Krimly told Reuters.

Krimly's comments, the first public confirmation from Riyadh that the rivals were holding direct talks, came after Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed earlier that his country hoped to have good ties with Iran.

The crown prince told Al Arabiya TV in an interview last month that the kingdom wants Iran to help push the Middle East toward prosperity and both countries share interests in promoting regional and global growth.