Iran, Saudi Arabia Resume Diplomatic Relations
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in the Chinese capital city of Beijing on Thursday morning.
The delegations from Riyadh and Tehran underlined the need for the resumption of official relationships and the implementation of the reopening of their respective embassies and consulates. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
Director-General for Persian Gulf Affairs of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Alireza Enayati also met and discussed with the Saudi deputy foreign minister in Beijing.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani announced on Thursday that Riyadh and Tehran resumed official diplomatic ties.
Kanaani, who accompanied Iran’s top diplomat on the visit to Beijing, told correspondents on Thursday that in line with negotiations between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two sides underlined the importance of stability and security in the region as well as the maintenance of security by regional players.
According to the spokesman, Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan expressed readiness of their countries to implement basic agreements existing between the two sides, including a comprehensive accord on mutual cooperation and a security agreement; they agreed upon taking steps in this respect gradually.
He went on to say that the Saudi and Iranian sides negotiated on the expansion of economic exchanges, in both the public and private sectors, and they underlined that the existing contracts between the two states pave the legal ground for initiating and improving such activities.
Private and public delegations from both countries also held talks on the expansion of trade, economic and investment cooperation, he said, adding that Riyadh and Tehran have reached a consensus to facilitate aerial transportation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, following meetings between technical delegations of both sides.
They also plan to facilitate issuing visas and other related services to the nationals of both states, to carry out economic and trade exchanges, as well as Umrah pilgrimage, Kanaani noted.
Later on, the two foreign ministers issued a joint statement. According to the joint statement, Riyadh and Tehran agreed to reopen embassies and consulates and expressed readiness to remove obstacles in the way of improving collaboration.
During these talks, the two sides emphasized the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement reached on March 10 and its activation in a way that would expand mutual trust and cooperation and help create security, stability and prosperity in the region.
The two sides emphasized the importance of discussing ways to expand bilateral relations and activate the security cooperation agreement between the two countries that was signed on April 17, 2001 and the general cooperation agreement in the field of economy, trade, and investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth, which was signed on May 27, 1998, according to the joint statement.
The joint statement added that both sides agreed to continue the necessary coordination between the technical delegations to examine ways of expanding cooperation between the two countries, including the resumption of flights and mutual trips of the official delegations and the private sector, facilitating the granting of visas for the citizens of the two countries, including visas for Umrah pilgrimages.
Considering the natural resources and economic capabilities and the many opportunities that exist to realize the common interests of the two brotherly nations, the two sides are increasing the consultative meetings on the ways of cooperation to realize as many positive prospects in relations as possible, according to the joint statement.
Both sides also agreed to expand their cooperation in any field that can ensure the security and stability of the region and realize the interests of its nations and countries.
At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed their gratitude to China for hosting this meeting, and Switzerland for its efforts to protect the interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Bin Farhan renewed his invitation to Amir-Abdollahian to visit Saudi Arabia and hold a bilateral meeting in Riyadh.
Amir-Abdollahian welcomed this invitation and invited his counterpart to visit Iran and hold a bilateral meeting in Tehran.
Later, both foreign ministers showed gratitude for the resumption of ties, terming the talks as “positive.”
Amir-Abdollahian wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday, “Today we had a positive meeting and dialogue with my colleague Emir Faisal bin Farhan in Beijing.”