Iran to reopen diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia

TEHERAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it would reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia this week, several months after Teheran and Riyadh agreed to end years of antagonism under a China-brokered deal.

Nasser Kanaani, the foreign ministry's spokesman, said in a statement that the Iranian embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh, its consulate general in Jeddah, and a representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will officially reopen on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The decision was part of the process to finish implementing the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreements on resuming bilateral relations, said the statement published on the ministry's website.

In March, Teheran and Riyadh agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties in a China-brokered peace deal, representing a major breakthrough in the region.

Last month, Iran appointed Alireza Enayati, a veteran diplomat, as its ambassador to Saudi Arabia, semiofficial Fars News Agency reported earlier.

Kanaani added that Iran's embassy in Riyadh and its consulate general in Jeddah had already begun operating to help Iranian pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj, or Islamic pilgrimage, set to commence by the end of June.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts in Teheran and the northeastern Mashhad city during demonstrations triggered by Riyadh's execution of a Shiite cleric and 46 others.

Hostilities between the regional heavyweights had threatened stability and security in the Middle East and helped fuel regional conflicts from Yemen to Syria.

The relationship had begun to deteriorate a year earlier after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen's war, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement had ousted a Saudi-backed government and taken over the capital Sanaa.

Riyadh accused Teheran of arming the Houthis, who went on to strike Saudi cities with armed drones and ballistic missiles. Iran denied those accusations.

Agencies Via Xinhua