Beijing: Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions in Tehran and Riyadh, respectively. Both countries further made a deal to encourage visits by official and private delegations as well as facilitate visas for Iranian and Saudi citizens.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Mr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, shook hands in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in the first formal meeting of the two senior officials after a years-long rift between Tehran and Riyadh.

“The technical teams will continue coordination to examine the ways of expanding cooperation, including the resumption of flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations and facilitating the granting of visas for the citizens of the two countries,” a joint statement noted.

The statement comes after the two agreed in March 2023 to restore ties in a landmark agreement brokered by China, a move that experts say demonstrated Beijing’s increasingly influential role in the region in contrast to the diminishing role of the United States.

“The two sides stressed the importance of following up and activating the implementation of the Beijing Agreement in a way that enhances mutual trust, expands the scope of cooperation, and contributes to achieving security, stability, and prosperity in the region,” the statement added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran broke formal ties in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in response to the kingdom’s execution of Shia Muslim leader Nimr al-Nimr.

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