Iran officially reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh has reopened on June 6, ending a diplomatic rift between the two countries under a China-mediated peace deal in March.
“We consider today an important day in the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bikdeli said. Bikdeli said it was a sign that cooperation was “entering a new era”.
Following the embassy reopening, Iran will also reopen its consulate in Jeddah, and its representative office with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Iran reopens its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven years, ending the diplomatic rift after a China-mediated peace deal pic.twitter.com/uspn1qOGZG
— TVI Today (@TVIToday) June 6, 2023
“To implement the agreement …, Iran’s embassy in Riyadh, our Consulate General in Jeddah and our office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will be officially reopened on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani said.
Although practical work has commenced, the official reopening has been delayed due to the need for preparations in buildings that remained closed for an extended period.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016 following the storming of its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad by pro-regime crowds protesting against the Kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
New Ambassador: Iranian media reported that Tehran has designated Alireza Enayati, a former envoy to Kuwait and a foreign ministry deputy for regional affairs, as the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait.
Riyadh is yet to confirm when it will open its embassy in Tehran, although a Saudi delegation visited the Iran in April.
The move comes several months after Tehran and Riyadh agreed to end years of antagonism under a Chinese-brokered deal and agreed to re-establish relations. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have been taking steps to de-escalate tensions in recent months, with the aim of enhancing regional security.
Following the March agreement, other countries in the region have also moved toward normalizing relations with Syria and its president, Bashar al-Assad, whom they had previously isolated due to his violent suppression of protests in 2011, leading to a decade-long civil war.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has increased its engagement with the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, where Riyadh and Tehran have supported opposing factions in the ongoing civil war since 2015.
Diplomatic ties and regional stability: The reopening of embassies between Iran and Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone in their efforts to rebuild diplomatic ties and foster greater stability in the region. The ongoing developments reflect a broader trend of de-escalation and dialogue between the two regional powerhouses, which could have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Blinken in KSA: The reopening of the Iranian embassy coincided with the visit of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia late on June 6. Blinken is expected to meet with top Saudi officials, including the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This will be the Biden administration’s second recent high-level visit to the Kingdom.