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Middle Eastern rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran "reconcile" to restore diplomatic ties

2023-04-06 20:03:35Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Middle Eastern rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran "reconcile" to restore
Saudi Arabia and Iran restore diplomatic ties

Middle Eastern rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia took another major step toward reconciliation on Thursday, formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year hiatus, citing the need for regional stability and agreeing to economic cooperation.

The deal was reached in Beijing during a meeting between Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers, a month after China brokered an initial reconciliation deal between the two regional powers.

The agreement further reduces the possibility of direct armed conflict between them, as well as other conflicts in the region between countries supported by one or the other rival. The deal could bolster diplomats' efforts to end the long war in Yemen, a conflict in which Iran and Saudi Arabia are deeply involved.

Thursday's announcement also represents another diplomatic victory for China as Gulf Arab states see the United States slowly withdrawing from the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian revealed the details of Thursday's deal in a post on the social network, Twitter, after talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The minister wrote that Thursday marked the beginning of "official diplomatic relations... economic and trade cooperation, the reopening of embassies and consulates general, and emphasizes the stability, sustainable security and development of the region."

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, said that in addition to the reopening of embassies in the two capitals, diplomatic missions will begin functioning in two other major cities - Mashhad in Iran and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The report says the two sides also agreed to study the possibility of resuming official and private flights and visits between the two nations and finding ways to ease the visa process for their residents.

China's Foreign Ministry announced last month that both sides had agreed to reopen their embassies and missions within two months.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the two foreign ministers signed a joint statement and expressed their determination to improve ties in line with their talks in Beijing last month.

The Saudi state news agency released a brief news report on the meeting, saying "discussions were held on joint relations and ways to improve cooperation in many fields," with both sides aiming to "enhance the security, stability and prosperity of two countries and peoples".

Thursday's talks in Beijing marked the first official meeting of top diplomats from the two countries since 2016, when Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran after protesters occupied Saudi diplomatic offices there. The protests in Iran were sparked after a few days ago Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric along with 46 other people.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China is willing to support both sides in promoting good relations, urging the international community to help Middle Eastern countries resolve their disputes.

"The colonial hegemonic tactics of fomenting contradictions, creating isolation and division must be rejected by people around the world," she said.

While the reopening of embassies would mark a major step forward, the extent of rapprochement may depend on peace efforts in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been at war with Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015, after capturing the capital and a large part of northern Yemen from the rebels.

Saudi Arabia is also deeply suspicious of Iran's nuclear program, which has advanced significantly since the US unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 deal to curb Iran's atomic activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

"I know from my discussions with the Saudis that they will be watching the Yemeni space very carefully," Tim Lenderking, the Biden administration's Yemen envoy, said during a non-governmental organization debate in Washington earlier this year. this week.

"If the Iranians want to show that they are really changing their stance on the conflict in Yemen, then there will be no more arms smuggling to the Houthi rebels in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," he said, noting apparently also the suspected Iranian involvement in the smuggling of narcotics.

Mr. Lenderking cited Iran's support for an ongoing ceasefire there as a recent positive sign and called on Iran to support political efforts for a lasting peace deal.


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