Iran nominates its ambassador to Saudi Arabia after 7 years

Iran nominated its ambassador to Saudi Arabia after more than 7 years.

According to the foreign news agency ‘AFP’, Iran has nominated Ali Reza Inayati as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who was previously Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait, assistant to the foreign minister and Gulf affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has held the position of Director General.

However, the appointment of Ali Reza Inayati was not confirmed by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

It should be noted that Saudi Arabia and Iran had agreed on an agreement on the restoration of relations through the mediation of China on March 10 this year after the severance of relations in 2016.

After Saudi Arabia executed Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in 2016, the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran was attacked, and since then diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have ended.

In response to this incident, Saudi Arabia ordered Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, while also recalling its embassy staff from Iran.

The relationship worsened a year ago after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in the war in Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi movement ousted the Saudi-backed government and seized the capital, Sanaa.

For Saudi Arabia, the new deal with Iran could mean fewer security concerns, which Saudi Arabia has accused of supplying arms to the Houthis, who have launched missiles and rockets at Saudi cities and oil facilities. Drone attacks have been carried out.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of a major attack on oil company Aramco’s facilities, but Iran denied these allegations.

In the past, the countries had held talks several times in view of the restoration of relations in Oman and Iraq.

The two regional powers officially re-established diplomatic relations after a historic deal mediated by China in March.