Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced in a press conference in Beirut that the embassies in Saudi Arabia and Iran would be reopened “within days.” This comes after both countries agreed to restore relations in March. Although Amirabdollahian did not give a specific date for the reopening of the embassies, the decision is seen as a significant step towards easing tensions in the region.
Last month, high-ranking security officials from both countries met in Beijing under Chinese auspices to re-establish diplomatic relations that had been severed in 2016 after a series of events, including the execution of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The deal was announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks between top security officials from the two rival Middle East powers.
The reopening of the embassies will be a significant development in the region, and both countries have already taken steps to begin the process. Delegations from the two countries visited the embassies in Riyadh and Tehran and consulates in Jeddah and Mashhad to launch the process of their reopening. The leaders of the two countries have also extended invitations to each other to visit.
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The move towards restoring relations between the two countries is being closely watched by the international community, given the history of tension and conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The reopening of embassies will likely have significant implications for the region, and it remains to be seen what impact it will have on the broader geopolitical landscape.
