Saudi Arabia, Iran to bolster economic ties: Ambassador

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: IRNA + news websites
13 Sep 2023 16:02
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The Chinese embassy has hosted a special ceremony in its embassy in Tehran which was attended by the Saudi ambassador to Iran among other officials.

Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi (L) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R) in Tehran, Iran on September 10, 2023. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)

Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi, the newly appointed Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Tehran, expressed his utmost satisfaction regarding the recent reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, al-Anzi emphasized that these ties would flourish across various domains, encompassing trade, economics, and investment through fostering bilateral relations.

The interview was held on the sidelines of a special ceremony hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Tehran.

In his address, he extended his gratitude to the People's Republic of China for their instrumental role in mediating the agreement that led to the resumption of relations between Riyadh and Tehran.

This historic agreement, which officially reinstated diplomatic ties, was heralded as a pivotal achievement in the realm of regional diplomacy. After seven years of tensions, it marked a significant turning point in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Ambassador al-Anzi expressed his eagerness to visit Riyadh in the near future, where he hopes to engage in discussions with Saudi King Salman and other high-ranking officials.

Following a visit made by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Council of Ministers in Saudi Arabia, headed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, expressed in late August its aspiration to open a new phase of relations with Iran.

During the session, the Council "reviewed the measures taken toward implementing the agreement to resume diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including having ambassadors from both countries carrying out their duties," the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Saudi Council also expressed hope that the new relations between the two countries "will be based on common interests and mutual respect."

On September 5, Riyadh welcomed Iran's new Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, to launch his highly-anticipated diplomatic mission bridging the gap between both nations.

After arriving, Enayati was welcomed by the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia and colleagues at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior to leaving for his new mission in Riyadh, he convened with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to whom he presented a report on plans for the promotion of bilateral ties.

Enayati was Iran’s former deputy ambassador to Riyadh and Iran's ambassador to Kuwait, and he served as an aide to the foreign minister and director-general of Gulf affairs at the Foreign Ministry.