Iranian officials say the country's intelligence minister held talks with the Saudi crown prince earlier this week, in the first diplomatic meeting between the two countries since the United States accused Iran of backing a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

There are few details of the meeting in Riyadh between Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi and Prince Nayef, who is also the kingdom's interior minister. But diplomats in Iran said the two met to clear up “misunderstandings.”

Relations between the two countries have been strained over Iran's nuclear program and other regional issues. Tensions heightened further in October after the U.S. announced it had broken up an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel al-Jubeir.

Officials said the U.S. filed charges against two Iranians for involvement in the plot, and that one suspect was part of Iran's elite Quds Force.

Iran denied the allegations and demanded a U.S. apology.