Iran and Saudi Arabia on Thursday agreed to resume diplomatic relations and direct flights between the two countries for the first time since 2016.
The arch rivals also agreed to resume bilateral governmental and business visits, and begin preparations for reopening embassies and consulates in each other’s country, said a joint statement after the meeting of the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing.
The top diplomats of Iran and Saudi Arabia also pledged to work together to bring “security and stability” to their turbulent region by improving ties.
The meeting came after a surprise China-brokered deal in March put Tehran and Riyadh on a path to restore relations that had been severed seven years ago when protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions.
“The two sides emphasised 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,” Thursday’s joint statement said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang “witnessed the signing of a joint statement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect”, the ministry said.
French President Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen were also in the Chinese capital Thursday, seeking to make Europe’s case in a meeting with Xi Jinping for bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Macron, in joint remarks to the media alongside Xi, welcomed the Iran-Saudi thaw as he congratulated his Chinese counterpart for securing “this important step forward”.
