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Iranian missions resume operations in Saudi Arabia

Three diplomatic missions – Iran’s embassy in Riyadh, a consulate general in Jeddah and a representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah – have resumed operations.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said that three Iranian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia have resumed operations.

Nasser Kanaani made the remarks on Monday at a weekly press conference when asked to comment on the progress by Iran and Saudi Arabia to reopen their diplomatic missions following an agreement that was reached between the two countries in March on the normalisation of their bilateral ties, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by Mehr news agency.

The three diplomatic missions are Iran’s embassy in Riyadh, a consulate general in Jeddah and a representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Kanaani was quoted as saying.

Kanaani stressed that the two countries are in the early stages of resuming their bilateral relations and reopening their embassies, adding that Iran’s technical team is currently based in Saudi Arabia and laying the groundwork.

He said he is optimistic that the two countries’ embassies will start their full operations as planned in accordance with their agreement.

The two countries had carried out good coordination in a humanitarian issue in their first steps toward the resumption of the bilateral diplomatic activities, said Kanaani, adding that the evacuation of 65 Iranian nationals from Sudan and their transfer to Iran via the Saudi port city of Jeddah was a positive development.

Regarding an upcoming visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Saudi Arabia, Kanaani said Tehran has received an official invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has responded to it officially.

At a press conference held in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Friday, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian confirmed that he and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have also invited each other for official visits.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions in the two countries within two months.

On April 6, the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

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Saudi, Iran Mend Ties in China-Brokered Deal

iran and saudi arabia flag.

Saudi Arabia and Iran also agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the trade, economy and investment agreement signed in 1998.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties, reopen embassies and exchange ambassadors within a period of two months, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.

The decision to re-establish relations, which were severed in 2016, came following talks that took place from March 6 through March 10 in Beijing, SPA reported citing a trilateral statement issued by the Kingdom, Iran and China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi in Beijing on Feb. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/IANS)

“Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to respect state sovereignty and not interfere in internal matters,” the statement said, adding that the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet soon to arrange for the exchange of envoys and discuss means to enhance ties, Al Arabiya reported.

Riyadh and Tehran also agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the trade, economy and investment agreement signed in 1998.

According to the statement, China’s President Xi Jinping had made an initiative to host and sponsor talks between delegates from Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve disputes via dialogue and diplomacy, Al Arabiya reported.

The Saudi delegation was headed by Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, while the Iranian delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

During the talks, China was represented by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia and Iran thanked China for hosting and sponsoring the recent talks and for the efforts exerted to help them succeed. They also thanked Iraq and Oman for hosting dialogue sessions between the two countries’ representatives in 2021 and 2022, Al Arabiya reported.

“Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are keen on making all [necessary] efforts to strengthen regional and international peace and security.”

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran after two of its diplomatic posts were attacked in Tehran and Mashhad in 2016.

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Iran wants to keep dialogue open with Saudi

Hossein-Amir-Abdollahian

Iranian Foreign Minister dismissed the claim that what happening in Yemen is related to Iran, adding that it is up to the Yemenis to decide the issues of their country, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

The ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia are facing problems and challenges but Iran is working hard to keep the dialogue open between the two Middle Eastern powers, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has said.

The diplomat, who is currently visiting Lebanon, on Friday said the contradictory behaviours of Saudi Arabia like the execution of 81 people, among whom are Shiite dissidents, affect the bilateral relations, and that Iran wouldn’t forget the death of 460 Iranian nationals in the Mina tragedy, a deadly stampede in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.

It was Saudi Arabia that has cut diplomatic ties with Iran, Abdollahian said, adding that “we have concerns about Saudi policy, but we have not cut ties with it.”

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in protest against the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric, Xinhua news agency reported.

Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia

About the conflicts between the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, “Yemenis’ defending of their sovereignty is an issue of their own business, but Iran welcomes cessation of war and lifting of the (Saudi-led) siege of this country.”

He dismissed the claim that what happening in Yemen is related to Iran, adding that it is up to the Yemenis to decide the issues of their country.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of the northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the following year to support the Yemeni government.

Meanwhile, Abdollahian has reaffirmed Iran’s red lines such as lifting sanctions “to the maximum,” for reaching an agreement in the nuclear talks in Vienna, the Iranian Students’ News Agency has reported.

Abdollahian made the statement during his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut on Thursday, highlighting Iran’s determination to defend the red lines set for the nuclear talks to safeguard its interests.

“We are optimistic and serious about the outcome of the Vienna talks. In our view, the agreement should be such that lifting of sanctions is done to the maximum,” he told Mikati.

“We want the agreements to be in a way that benefits the region and expands our good relations with the countries of the region,” the Iranian top diplomat said.

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