Media: Riyadh and Tehran agree not to confront each other militarily

16 March 2023

Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed not to get into military confrontation with each other, and not to carry out intelligence activities against the interests of the two countries, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday, citing a senior official.


"Both countries have committed themselves to defense and security in order to avoid military aggression [against each other] and carrying out intelligence activities," the channel quoted the official as saying. He also said that Saudi Arabia and Iran have reached a common understanding regarding the resolution of the conflict in Yemen.


The spokesman did not name details of the agreements, noting only that Riyadh and Tehran have not discussed the problem of restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program.


Saudi Arabia also pledged not to provide its territory to third countries to attack Iran.


"According to the agreement, Saudi territory will not be used for military operations against Iran," the channel quoted the official as saying.


Restoring diplomatic relations


Saudi Arabia has notified allies, including the United States, of its intention to restore diplomatic relations with Iran.


"We informed our allies, including the United States, before going to Beijing and concluding an agreement with Iran," the channel quoted the official as saying. He also noted that "Saudi Arabia is not a party to the conflict between the West and China," and Riyadh's decision to normalize relations with Tehran has met with support among allies.


On March 10, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months. Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and Saudi Minister of State for National Security Musayed bin Mohammed al-Aiban negotiated for several days in Beijing, which resulted in a trilateral statement. It indicated that Tehran and Riyadh are committed to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and plan to resume cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, culture, science, and technology.


Relations between Riyadh and Tehran deteriorated in March 2015 with the start of the Saudi-led coalition military operation in Yemen against the Ansar Allah (Houthis) movement. In January 2016, after the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad were attacked by crowds of protesters outraged by the execution in Riyadh of Shiite preacher Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the kingdom broke off diplomatic relations with Iran.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic world"

Photo: lawepw/Public Domain

Based on materials from TASS