Iran and Saudi Arabia confirmed earlier agreements on opening embassies and consulates. This was said in a joint statement by Iranian and Saudi Foreign Ministers Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud following talks in Beijing.
"The two sides agreed to reopen the embassies of the two countries within the agreed timeframe and to take the necessary measures to open the embassies in Riyadh and Tehran and the consulates in Jeddah and Mashhad," the document, published Thursday on the Iranian foreign ministry's Telegram channel, said.
In addition, Tehran and Riyadh stressed "the readiness to remove all obstacles to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries." They intend to expand cooperation in any sphere in order to "ensure the security and stability of the region." Iran and Saudi Arabia also plan to intensify consultations to achieve "more positive prospects for relations, given that the two countries possess natural and economic resources and great opportunities for the common good."
Resumption of flights
Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to hold consultations to enhance cooperation, including the resumption of flights and the facilitation of the visa process.
"The sides agreed to continue the necessary coordination between technical delegations to explore ways to expand cooperation between the two countries, including the resumption of flights and mutual visits of official delegations and [representatives of] the private sector, the facilitation of visas for citizens of the two countries, including visas to perform Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage to the Meccan Kaaba, which unlike Hajj can be conducted at any time of year, - TASS note)," the document said.
Invitation to Riyadh and Tehran
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud invited his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian to hold talks in Riyadh.
Abdollahian accepted the Saudi minister's invitation and offered to make a return visit to Tehran. "His Highness welcomed the invitation," the statement noted.
On March 10, Tehran and Riyadh agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months. Representatives of the two countries held talks for several days in Beijing, which resulted in a trilateral statement.
Relations between Riyadh and Tehran deteriorated in March 2015 with the start of the Saudi-led coalition military operation in Yemen against Ansar Allah (Houthis). In January 2016, after the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were attacked by crowds of protesters outraged by the execution in Riyadh of Shiite preacher Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the kingdom severed diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: IRNA
Based on materials from TASS