Iranian Economy Minister lands in Jeddah in first since agreement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 May 2023 12:11

The Iranian Minister's trip agenda includes holding bilateral meetings with Saudi officials.

Iranian Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi (WANA)

Iranian Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi arrived on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, at the head of a high-ranking economic delegation, Iranian news agency Mehr reported.

The agency said that upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport, Khandouzi was welcomed by Saudi officials, Islamic Development Bank managers, and members of the Iranian Consulate General in the city.

It pointed out that the Iranian Minister's trip agenda includes holding bilateral meetings with Saudi officials and delivering an address at the meetings of the Islamic Development Bank.

The Iranian agency highlighted that this is the first visit by an Iranian official to Saudi Arabia after the two countries signed in March a Chinese-brokered agreement on the restoration of diplomatic ties between them.

In a related context, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA that Saudi Arabia introduced its new ambassador to Tehran, pointing out that Iran will soon do the same.

On Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran and Saudi Arabia will soon announce the re-opening of their respective embassies in each country.

During a session of the Iranian Shura Council, Amir-Abdollahian underlined that the top diplomatic agencies in Iran and Saudi Arabia "must reopen the embassies and consulates of the two countries," state-run Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

"The normalization of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia gives a huge boost in terms of capabilities to both countries and the region as a whole," the Iranian top diplomat underlined.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that there was tremendous progress in terms of the preparation for the headquarters of the diplomatic missions in each country.

It was reported in April that Saudi and Iranian authorities were consulting and cooperating to pave the way for the reopening of their diplomatic missions.