Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Tehran on Saturday.
The historical visit marked his first since both nations resolved their seven-year dispute and reestablished diplomatic ties in January. His Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, received him at Iran’s foreign ministry, setting the stage for bilateral talks.
Prince Faisal is also expected to meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during this landmark trip. During their press conference, both officials celebrated the rejuvenation of diplomatic ties. In this context, Amirabdollahian emphasized that Iran never associated security with militarism. Instead, Iran sees security as a multi-dimensional concept encompassing all regional countries’ political, economic, cultural, trade, and social facets.
Speaking on the occasion, the Saudi FM stressed that mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and commitment to the United Nations charter would form the cornerstone of their bilateral relations. He underscored the discussions regarding cooperation on maritime security and the reduction of weapons of mass destruction proliferation.
Restoration of Diplomatic Ties
Saudi Arabia cut off relations with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked during protests against Riyadh’s execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. However, in a Chinese-brokered deal, the two nations agreed in March to mend ties and reopen their respective embassies, significantly shifting regional dynamics.
Iran’s government spokesperson, Ali Bahadori Jahromi, mentioned to local media that Prince Faisal is expected to initiate steps towards reopening the Saudi diplomatic mission in Tehran during this visit. On June 6, Iran reopened its embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia. As the Iranian Sazandegi reports daily, the Saudi embassy will temporarily reopen in a hotel in Tehran before returning to its permanent location.
