Thawing relations: Iranian FM to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Aug 2023 09:34
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Iranian Prime Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will head to Riyadh on an official visit this Thursday following an invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Iranian Foreign Minister, right, and his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud shake hands during a meeting in Beijing on Thursday as the rival nations restored diplomatic relations. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/The Associated Press)

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday following an invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. During this diplomatic encounter, the two sides are anticipated to engage in discussions encompassing matters of both regional and global significance, along with economic affairs.

This comes just a few days after the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to visit Riyadh following an invitation from his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.

At the time, the Ministry's Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani told the press that the two diplomats will hold "negotiations and consultations" on regional, international, and economic issues.

The Iranian official added that the talks are expected to yield improved results on the level of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

He also revealed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has in fact received an official invitation from King Salman Al-Saud, however, the trip has not yet been scheduled.

Here's what to consider - Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume relations on March 10 after seven years of severed ties through China's mediation.

The two countries had their ties severed in 2016 following Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr. The agreement to officially restore diplomatic ties was signed at a ceremony on April 6 in Beijing.

The two countries are scheduled to resume direct flights, allow mutual visits by top officials, and foster security collaboration. Since then both embassies have launched their work in each other's countries and Iranian-Saudi relations continue to develop after years of stagnation.