Iran, Saudi Arabia to resume ties after years of hostility

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on Friday to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility that have threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria. The deal was announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two rival Middle East powers. Saudi Arabia and Iran will reopen their respective embassies within two months, and both states confirmed “their respect for the sovereignty of nations and non-interference in their internal affairs”, the statement said. Both countries thanked China, as well as Iraq and Oman for hosting earlier talks in 2021 and 2022.

After talks in China, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties within two months, Iranian state media reported on Friday, adding that the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet in near future and reopen their embassies. Riyadh has hot confirmed it.

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 10, 2023

The agreement was signed by Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani, and Saudi Arabia’s national security adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. A third signatory was China’s top diplomat Wang Yi.