Iran-Saudi Agreement / Consulates and Embassies: What about the Latest Steps to Rapprochement?
The Saudi-Iranian rapprochement is entering a new phase of building relations after being cut off for decades due to Iran’s support of a number of terrorist issues and groups in the region. The reconciliation was made after Beijing crossed the line to achieve the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement for the first time last March.
Recently, relations have been diversified: Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a joint statement in China agreeing to begin reopening arrangements for embassies and consulates, resuming flights and facilitating visas for citizens, and the two countries agreed to resume mutual visits by officials and private-sector representatives.
Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement
The statement came after a meeting between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Thursday. Riyadh and Tehran agreed to end their diplomatic row and reopen embassies in an important agreement mediated by China last month.
In a short video posted on Twitter early Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian exchanged greetings before sitting next to each other.
The meeting discussed the resumption of relations announced last month and arrangements for the exchange of ambassadors.
China’s choice of the meeting between the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers comes as an extension of Beijing’s positive role in reaching the agreement and facilitating communication between the two countries.
“The two countries severed relations in 2016, after Iranian protesters attacked the Kingdom’s embassy and consulate in Tehran, a seven-year rupture.”
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber said the meeting will be followed by a visit by Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to Riyadh after he received an invitation from Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Saudi Arabia has not yet confirmed the invitation.
According to Saudi media, the Beijing meeting aims to “activate” the content of the agreement to restore relations announced last month.
Iran on Wednesday appointed Reza al-Ameri as its ambassador to the UAE, nearly eight years after the country’s last was in Abu Dhabi. Tehran also welcomed the possibility of rapprochement with its neighbor Bahrain after the announcement of the agreement with Saudi Arabia.
