Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to resume ties, re-open embassies after 7 years after mediation by China

Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to resume ties and re-open embassies after seven years!

The development comes after mediation by China.

As reported, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed on Friday to re-establish relations after a seven-year diplomatic rupture which has fuelled tensions in the Gulf and deepened conflicts from Yemen to Syria.

The agreement was reached after talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two rival Middle East powers.

“As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies…within two months,” Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

Iranian and Saudi media said a statement by the two countries emphasised respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

Saudi Arabia’s state news agency reported that they also agreed to activate a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001, as well as another earlier accord on trade, economy and investment.

Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani, is reported to have signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia’s national security adviser, Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.

Ali Shamkhani also praised China for its role in the rapprochement, Iran’s Nour News reported.

Both Saudi Arabia and Iran have also thanked Iraq and Oman for hosting talks in 2021 and 2022, the report added.

The two leading Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim powers in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been at odds for years.

Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran back in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric.