The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met on Thursday in Beijing. This was the first time in more than seven years since diplomatic ties between the two were severed, Reuters reported. Earlier, in trilateral talks with China, it was possible to normalize relations between the two conflicting powers.
After years of hostility that fueled conflicts in the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to end the dispute and reopen diplomatic missions under an agreement that was worked out with your participation China in March.
Beijing’s successful efforts in this regard are believed to reflect the growing importance of the People’s Republic of China in the Middle East and challenge the role of USA in the region, the BBC commented.
READ MORE: Iran and Saudi Arabia will resume diplomatic relations. The effect of talks in China
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in the Chinese capital. It was their first meeting in over seven years. In a short video posted by Iranian state television, the diplomats greeted each other and then sat down next to each other.
Meeting of the heads of diplomacy of Iran and Saudi ArabiaPAP/EPA/IRANAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HANDOUT
Diplomatic posts will be restored
Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively the Sunni and Shia regional powers in the Persian Gulf, said in a joint statement that they would begin preparations to reopen embassies and consulates within two months and restore air links between the two countries. Abdollahian and Prince Faisal said they discussed resuming bilateral visits.
Iran announced in early April that the president Ebrahim Raisi accepted the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and will visit Saudi Arabia.
China has played a key role in normalizing relations between the two Gulf countriesPAP/EPA/IRANAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HANDOUT
Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran seven years ago after mobs stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran. This followed the execution in Saudi Arabia of the influential Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Easing tensions between the Sunni kingdom and the Shiite theocracy could help bring stability to the Middle East, Reuters reported.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/IRANAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HANDOUT