Saudi-Iran Restore Relations in Deal Brokered by China
Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two great oil-producing rivals of the Middle East, have agreed to restore ties and reopen embassies 7 years after relations were severed.
The agreement came after Chinese-brokered talks held in Beijing. 'As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies… within two months,' Iran's state news agency Irna reported, citing a joint statement.
Saudi cut ties with Iran after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in 2016 following the Saudi execution of the revered Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The rivalry between predominantly Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia has dominated Middle East politics in recent years, spreading into Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
'After implementing the decision, the foreign ministers of both countries will meet to prepare for exchange of ambassadors,' Iranian state television said.
The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the agreement, which said the two nations had agreed to respect state sovereignty and not interfere in each other's internal affairs.
The statement also said Riyadh and Tehran had agreed to activate a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001.
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