In a significant stride toward regional stability, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan asserted that the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran holds immense importance. The statement was made during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Riyadh on Thursday.
Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s anticipation of fostering stronger bilateral relations with Iran as the two nations move forward in this new chapter. Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Riyadh comes in the wake of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran, facilitated by China in March. This development comes after seven years of no formal diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
During the press conference, Prince Faisal highlighted the Kingdom’s interest in activating previous security and economic agreements that were previously established with Iran. He also extended gratitude to Iran for its supportive stance on Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030.
Amir-Abdollahian described the discussions in Riyadh as productive, emphasizing Iran’s recognition of Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in the region. He underscored the potential for collaborative efforts to address ongoing regional concerns.
The Iranian counterpart also conveyed that relations with Saudi Arabia were progressing favorably and reaffirmed Iran’s determination to enhance ties with the Kingdom. He went on to mention that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has plans to visit Saudi Arabia “in due time.”
In a significant diplomatic move, Prince Faisal had previously visited Tehran in June, where he engaged in discussions with Amir-Abdollahian and President Ebrahim Raisi.
Under the agreement signed in March, both Riyadh and Tehran committed to reopening embassies and consulates in each other’s territories. Additionally, they aimed to implement security and economic cooperation agreements that had been established over two decades ago.
The severed ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2016, following an attack on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Iran, marked a period of strained relations that this recent development seeks to mend.