Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies in their respective countries, according to a report by state-run news agency SPA.
Negotiations were overseen by China and a signed deal includes commitment to open embassies within two months.
The two countries are reported to have been talking privately for more than a year and delegations from the Kingdom and Iran held talks in Beijing this week, in response to the initiative of President Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
Saudi-Iran negotiations.
The delegations from the two countries held talks during the period March 6 to 10 in Beijing.
In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia, Iran and China announced that an agreement has been reached between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months.
The agreement includes their affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states.
They also agreed that the ministers of foreign affairs of both countries shall meet to implement this, arrange for the return of their ambassadors, and discuss means of enhancing bilateral relations.
They also agreed to implement the Security Cooperation Agreement between them, which was signed in 2001 and the General Agreement for Cooperation in the Fields of Economy, Trade, Investment, Technology, Science, Culture, Sports, and Youth, which was signed in 1998.
Saudi Arabia’s Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and National Security Advisor, and Iran’s Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council led the negotiations.
Saudi and Iranian sides expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Iraq and Oman for hosting dialogue since 2021 in the build-up to the historic agreement.
Both nations also praised China’s role in the agreement as it hosted talks.
The three countries expressed their keenness to exert all efforts towards enhancing regional and international peace and security.