Iran, Saudi end formalities for resumed ties in China

ALBAWABA - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal Al-Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian set in motion the resumption of full diplomatic relations following more than seven years of estrangement between the Mideast oil producing rivals.

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Under China's patronage, the two ministers initialed a joint communique in the Chinese capital Beijing. It outlined plans for reopening both country's respective embassies and consulates, exchanging tourists and other organizational matters, such as procedures related to visa issuance.

The meeting is the second between top Iranian and Saudi officials in less than one month. On March 10, the two countries signed a historic deal on resuming diplomatic ties, brokered by China following one year of negotiations between the two sides at different locations, including Iraq.

The China-brokered Saudi-Iran rapprochement is a major diplomatic breakthrough after years of mutual animosity, suspected attacks and espionage between the two Mideast nations.

It also underpins Beijing’s first foray into Middle East mediation, a role that has traditionally been commanded by the United States in the past few decades.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran when Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran in 2016. The attack followed Saudi execution of revered Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The rivalry between predominantly Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia dominated Mideast politics over the recent years, and spread into neighboring Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Thursday's statement was released hours following closed-door talks between the two top diplomats, who confirmed the resumption of  flights between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the facilitation of granting visas for citizens in both countries, including entry permits for Umrah, or the minor Muslim pilgrimage.

Iran and Saudi Arabia also agreed on reopening their respective embassies and consulates in Jeddah and Mashhad and organizing future visits by officials and private sector delegations. But no specific dates were disclosed.

Both officials thanked the Chinese government for preparing and hosting the meeting, which the Iranian foreign minister described as "positive."

The officials also expressed their appreciation to the Swiss government for "its endeavors efforts to take care of Saudi and Iranian interests."

In a related development, Iran appointed a new ambassador to the United Arab Emirates for the first time in seven years. On Wednesday, Reda Amiri became the Iranian ambassador to Abu Dhabi.