Saudi, Iranian Foreign Ministers To Meet Over Re-opening Embassies

Diplomatic relations were severed in January 2016 after pro-regime mobs attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran following the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia. Years of hostility followed that had threatened stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke by phone to mark the occasion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saudi state news agency SPA said.

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized during the call Iran's readiness to strengthen relations, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

The deal between the regional powers, Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and long-time rival Shi'ite Iran, brokered by China, was announced March 10 after previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two countries.

Analysts say both sides stand to benefit from de-escalation, as Iran seeks to undercut US efforts to isolate it in the region and Saudi Arabia tries to focus on economic development.

The kingdom also has blamed Iran for missile and drone attacks on its oil facilities in 2019 as well as attacks on tankers in Gulf waters. Iran denied those allegations.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has also carried out cross-border missile and drone attacks into Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition fighting the Houthis, and in 2022 extended the strikes to the United Arab Emirates.