Saudi Arabia, Iran Restore Diplomatic Ties

World Thursday 06/April/2023 20:38 PM
By: ONA
Saudi Arabia, Iran Restore Diplomatic Ties
(Photo Credit: ONA)

Beijing: Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), who is on an official visit to Beijing, met today with Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed relations and followed up the steps taken to implement the agreement reached by the two countries in Beijing.

The agreement includes reopening their respective embassies within a period agreed upon. They also discussed ways to achieve security and prosperity for their countries and peoples.

The two officials also expressed their hope to increase the number of consultative meetings. They also explored prospects to promote the joint cooperation to serve common interests.

Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iranian Foreign Minister laid out details of Thursday’s agreement in a tweet, after his talks with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The minister wrote that Thursday marked the beginning of “official diplomatic relations ... economic and commercial cooperation, the reopening of embassies and consulates general, and the emphasis on stability, stable security and development of the region.” Amirabdollahian said that the issues are “agreed upon and on the common agenda.”

The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said that in addition to reopening embassies in the two capitals, diplomatic missions would start operating in two other major cities — Mashhad in Iran and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The report said both sides also agreed to study the prospects of resuming flights and official and private visits between the two nations, in addition to how to facilitate the visa process for their people.

Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the two foreign ministers signed a joint statement and expressed their determination to improve ties in line with their talks in Beijing last month.