Iran-KSA thaw to bear positive outcome for region
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister paid a visit to Tehran on Saturday as a first trip by a Saudi top diplomat to Iran in seven years amid a rapprochement between the two Middle East powers.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan was welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at Iran’s Foreign Ministry ahead of bilateral talks and a press conference.
During the press conference, the two sides hailed the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, which they said would be paramount to improving security across the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never equated security with militarism, and considers security to be a comprehensive concept, which includes political, economic, cultural, trade and social dimensions between all the countries of the region,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
The Iranian foreign minister said he discussed a wide range of issues with his counterpart, which included trade ties, joint investments, technology, tourism and transportation.
The Iranian top diplomat also said they talked about cooperation on environment, formation of joint economic and political committees and fighting drug trafficking among the other issues.
Both sides also discussed the Palestinian issue, the ongoing conflict in Sudan and some other regional and international issues.
For his part, Bin Farhan said Iran and Saudi Arabia are two important countries in the region, adding that “mutual respect, non-interference in the two countries’ internal affairs and commitment to the United Nations Charter” will be at the center of bilateral relations going forward, with an eye on securing the interests of both nations.
“I would also like to highlight the two countries’ discussions on cooperation on ensuring maritime security and reducing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
He said that the Saudi Embassy in Tehran will be reopened soon.
Bin Farhan expressed hope that restoration of relations between Tehran and Riyadh would have positive effects on the entire region and the Islamic world, which will also help the security and the development of economic and cultural cooperation in the region.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in Beijing on March 10 to resume relations and reopen diplomatic missions within two months.
Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh on June 6, followed by its consulate general in Jeddah and its mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) a day later.
Tehran has selected Alireza Enayati, a former envoy to Kuwait and a Foreign Ministry deputy for regional affairs, as its ambassador to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran following Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric.