Saudi media report that Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers met in Beijing. It is the first time since 2016 that the ministers of the two countries have officially met. The two broke off diplomatic ties at the time, but thanks to Chinese mediation, Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to re-establish ties on March 10.
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran and Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia discussed the practical implementation of the plan to resume diplomatic relations, such as reopening their embassies. The two powers pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs. A security agreement that the two concluded more than twenty years ago is back in force.
Yemen
Iran and Saudi Arabia severed ties in early 2016 after a Shiite cleric was executed in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed. Iran is predominantly Shia and has been in conflict with the West, particularly the United States, since 1979. Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni and a staunch ally of the United States. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia claim a leading role in the Islamic world. They are bitter opponents in the struggle in Yemen, among other things.
The rapprochement could bring the end of the war in Yemen closer. Recently, Prince Faisal also said he would like to invite Syrian President Assad to an Arab summit in Riyadh in May. Saudi Arabia and the Syrian regime have long been opponents of the Syrian civil war, while Iran is also providing armed support to the Assad regime.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
