Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to resume ties, re-open embassies

Gulf Today Report

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iran and China announced in a joint statement, on Friday, the restoration of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran.

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

"As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies... within two months," the SPA reported.

The text of the statement read: In response to the generous initiative of His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China to support China to develop good neighborly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, China hosted and sponsored the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, desiring to resolve the differences between them through dialogue and diplomacy within the framework of the fraternal ties that bring them together, and their commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charters of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international conventions and norms, which took place in the period from 6-10 March 2023 in Beijing.

The Saudi and Iranian sides expressed their appreciation and thanks to the Republic of Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the rounds of dialogue that took place between the two sides during the years 2021-2022. The two sides also expressed their appreciation and thanks to the leadership and government of the People's Republic of China for hosting and sponsoring the talks and their efforts to make them a success.

The three countries declare that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reached an agreement that includes:

Approving the resumption of diplomatic relations between them and the reopening of their embassies and representations within a maximum period of two months.

Their emphasis includes respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.

They agreed that the foreign ministers of the two countries would hold a meeting to activate this, arrange the exchange of ambassadors, and discuss ways to strengthen relations between them.

Each of the three countries expressed their keenness to make every effort to enhance regional and international peace and security.