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Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to make peace and restore diplomatic ties after seven years of animosity. Photo/Tehran Times
RIYADH – Iran and Arab Saudi on Friday (10/3/2023) agreed to make peace and restore diplomatic relations after seven years of hostility. Under the China-brokered deal, Tehran and Riyadh will reopen their respective embassies within two months.
The agreement was reached after talks between the two sides held in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
“As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months,” state news agency IRNA reported.
The Iranian state media posted photos and videos of the meeting in China. It shows Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council Ali Shamkhani alongside Saudi Arabia’s National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi.
“After the implementation of the decision, the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet to prepare for the exchange of ambassadors,” state television said.
In a recording shown by Iranian media, Wang was heard expressing “wholehearted congratulations” for the wisdom of the two countries.
“Both sides have shown sincerity,” he said. “China fully supports this agreement.”
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed the agreement while also publishing a joint statement from Saudi Arabia and Iran, saying that the two countries had agreed to respect national sovereignty and not interfere in each other’s internal affairs.
The statement also said that Riyadh and Tehran had agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001.
