Saudi Arabia, Iran agree to reopen diplomatic missions

KABUL (Pajhwok): Top Saudi and Iranian diplomats met in Beijing on Thursday for talks on the resumption of bilateral diplomatic relations, CNN reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud agreed on reopening embassies and consulates.

In more than seven years, it is the highest-level contact between the two countries, which cut diplomatic ties in 2016.

However, China succeeded in bringing about a détente -- a diplomatic achievement for Beijing -- between Iran and Saudi Arabia last month.

At Thursday’s meeting in the Chinese capital, the two sides agreed to study ways of boosting bilateral cooperation, including the resumption of flights, exchange of official delegations and facilitating visas.

A statement from the Iranian foreign ministry said: “The two sides emphasized their readiness to eliminate all obstacles facing the expansion of bilateral cooperation.”

Embassies would be opened in Riyadh and Tehran and consulates in Jeddah and Mashhad, promised the diplomats, who shook hands. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang stood in the middle.

The two sides pledge to expand their cooperation in any field that could ensure the security and stability of the region.

PAN Monitor/mud