(MENAFN) After years of severed ties, Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken a significant step towards the normalization of their diplomatic relations. According to reports, the foreign ministers of both countries have agreed to meet soon in preparation to reopen embassies and consulates between the two nations. The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed the matter over a phone call late Tuesday. The two ministers exchanged Ramadan greetings and agreed to hold a bilateral meeting soon to pave the way for the reopening of embassies and consulates between the two countries. While the Saudi Foreign Ministry did not disclose further details regarding the date of the meeting, the move is seen as a significant development and a positive step towards the restoration of relations between the two nations.
This move comes after Chinese-brokered talks between the two countries in March, where they announced that they would be restoring mutual ties and planning to reopen embassies within two months. The restoration of diplomatic ties marks a significant shift in the relations between the two nations, which were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr on charges including "terrorism." Following the execution, protesters attacked Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, leading to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The reopening of embassies and consulates between Saudi Arabia and Iran is expected to have a positive impact on the region's stability, as the two countries have long been at odds over regional influence and religious differences. The move is a positive sign for the region, as it could pave the way for further cooperation and dialogue between the two nations, leading to a more peaceful and stable Middle East.
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