France welcomes the decision of Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore their diplomatic relations, the Quai d'Orsay announced on Friday March 10 in a press release.

Paris has also called on Iran to renounce its destabilizing actions, specifies the Quai d'Orsay.

Paris is in favor of "any initiative that can contribute in a concrete way to the de-escalation of tensions and the strengthening of regional security and stability", said Anne-Claire Legendre, the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. .

She added that the head of diplomacy Catherine Colonna had been informed of this decision during a meeting on Friday in Paris with her Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan.

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The White House also "welcomed" Friday's announcement but "it remains to be seen whether Iran will fulfill its obligations," a spokesperson said.

"Good neighborly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are essential for the stability of the Gulf region," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

Breakup

Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran severed ties more than seven years ago after protesters in the Islamic Republic attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following Riyadh's execution of a famous cleric Shi'ite.

Other Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain subsequently reduced their diplomatic ties with Tehran to support Riyadh.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani had been in Beijing since Monday "for intensive negotiations with his Saudi counterpart in China aimed at resolving the (recent) differences between Tehran and Riyadh", Irna reported.

The foreign ministers of the two countries will "implement this decision and make the necessary arrangements for the exchange of ambassadors," the statement added, without further details.

The head of Iranian diplomacy, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, hailed on Twitter "the return to normal relations" between his country and Saudi Arabia.

"The return to normal relations between Tehran and Riyadh offers great opportunities for the two countries, the region and the Muslim world," he said, adding that his ministry would "actively launch other regional initiatives". without giving details.

His Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhane, said the deal reflected the kingdom's tendency to favor "political solutions and dialogue", an approach he wants to see become the norm in the region.

With AFP

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