Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, discussed, during a phone call, efforts to open embassies and return ambassadors between the two countries.
And the “SPA” agency indicated that “during the call, bilateral relations were reviewed, and ways to develop them in various fields. The two ministers also reviewed many issues of concern to the two countries, and the next steps in light of what was recently agreed upon with the People’s Republic of China.”
In this context, Abdullahian indicated, “Iran has made the necessary preparations to officially open its political and consular representations in Saudi Arabia,” considering that “the schedule of visits and meetings of officials and foreign ministers of the two countries to each other’s capitals is an indication of the two sides’ determination to cooperate and establish appropriate relations.”
In turn, bin Farhan stressed “Riyadh’s positive view of the future of relations between the two countries and the efforts exerted to develop and strengthen them,” noting that “we have taken good steps in the past two months, and that our adherence to the agreements reached is an indication of our serious determination.”
Earlier in the day, the Iranian “Mehr” agency revealed, “It is likely that Ali Reza Enayati, Director General of the Gulf Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be appointed as the new ambassador of Tehran in Riyadh.”
Last March, Riyadh and Tehran announced their agreement to resume diplomatic relations after years of estrangement.
The agreement between the two countries was mediated by China, which played an important role in its completion, and was one of the signatories of the joint statement of the two countries.
It is noteworthy that diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2016, after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic headquarters in Iran, after the Saudi authorities executed the Saudi Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr.
