The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia issued held a landmark meeting in Beijing and issued a joint statement on Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan signed the joint statement, agreeing to resume flights and facilitate visas for the countries’ citizens.
The statement said the agreement to normalize ties between the two regional states would help bring security and stability to the Middle East.
“The two sides emphasized the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and its activation in a way that expands mutual trust and the fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region,” read the statement.
According to Tehran, the two top diplomats discussed the reopening of the embassies and consulates in the two countries after years of hostility.
“The foreign ministers of the Islamic republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia negotiated and exchanged opinions with the emphasis on the official resumption of bilateral relations and the executive steps towards the reopening of the embassies and consulates of the two countries,” the Iranian foreign ministry statement said.
#Beijing | China’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Qin Gang held a luncheon in the honor of Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan, and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of #Iran H.E. @Amirabdolahian. pic.twitter.com/JC7GCbF6N1
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 6, 2023
Saudi state TV Al Ekhbariya also said that the two ministers held a meeting in Beijing to “discuss implementing the agreement” that had been announced earlier in March. The surprise rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh restored relations severed seven years ago.
In a tweet, the Saudi newspaper Okaz posted a video showing Iran’s Amir Abdollahian complaiting over the long flight between Tehrand and Beijing, with Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan responding that the “flight between Riyadh and Tehran takes only 2 hours.”
🎥#فيديو | وزير الخارجية الإيراني يشكو من طول الرحلة من طهران إلى #بكين.. ويجيبه وزير خارجية #السعودية @FaisalbinFarhan : الرحلة بين #الرياض و #طهران تستغرق ساعتين فقط#عكاظ https://t.co/D8VMPRsNul pic.twitter.com/5sRVD0iC3a
— عكاظ (@OKAZ_online) April 6, 2023
The deal brokered by China included the reopening of the embassies within two months. The foreign ministers of the two states has earlier decided to meet during the holy month of Ramadan to discuss next steps in restoring ties.
Last week, Tehran said there was a “constructive path of relations between the two countries.”
Talks between the foreign ministers are expected to be followed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Riyadh. On Monday Tehran confirmed that Raisi has accepted an invitation from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman.
Source: Agencies
