Iranian media announced that Tehran and Riyadh have agreed to resume diplomatic relations between them and reopen the two embassies, as a culmination of the talks that brought the two sides together in Beijing.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Friday that a delegation from the Kingdom headed by Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, National Security Adviser Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban, and a delegation from Iran headed by Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, held talks in China. With an official Chinese presence, the three countries announced that they had reached an agreement that includes agreeing to resume diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh and to reopen their embassies and representations within a maximum period of two months. In a statement issued after the meeting, the Saudi and Iranian sides declared 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 and 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 efforts to make them a success, according to the text of the statement.
The agreement includes their affirmation of respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, and they also agreed that the foreign ministers of the two countries hold a meeting to activate this, arrange the exchange of ambassadors and discuss ways to strengthen relations between them.
The two parties agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement between them, signed in 2001, and the general agreement for cooperation in the field of economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth, signed in 1998.
The three countries expressed their keenness to make all efforts to enhance regional and international peace and security.
Earlier, official Iranian media reported today, Friday, that Iran and Saudi Arabia had agreed, after talks in Beijing, to resume diplomatic relations.
"As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen the two embassies within two months," the official IRNA news agency said.
She stated that a meeting would soon be held between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Noor News Agency also said that the Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, praised China for its role in rebuilding diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh.
And the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, stated last January that the Kingdom is trying to find a way to dialogue with Iran, considering that dialogue is the best way to resolve differences.
Riyadh and Tehran severed relations in 2016, but officials from the two countries have held five rounds of direct talks hosted by Iraq since last year, the last of which was in April, without achieving any diplomatic breakthrough.