Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is scheduled to make a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he will engage in talks with his counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan. This meeting, set to take place in Riyadh, aims to further advance the process of restoring bilateral relations that were severed for seven years due to diplomatic tensions.
The re-opening of embassies in Tehran and Riyadh, as well as the establishment of consulates general in Jeddah and Mashhad, mark significant progress in the normalization of relations between the two countries. China played a mediating role in facilitating these steps. During discussions held in Beijing on March 10, both Iran and Saudi Arabia affirmed their commitment to principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. They expressed a shared goal of fostering cooperation across multiple domains, including trade, economy, culture, science, and technology.
Iran's new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, will accompany Foreign Minister Abdollahian on the visit. This visit holds the potential to deepen cooperation between the two countries. Abdollahian expressed eagerness to engage in dialogue, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic interactions in the Persian Gulf region.
The diplomatic rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran began in 2016 after the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were attacked in response to the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shiite preacher. Subsequently, the two nations have taken steps towards reconciliation, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visiting Tehran in June.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS