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April 6: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (left) and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal (right), with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (center) in Beijing
Photo: Saudi Press Agency / REUTERS
After a break of years, Iran will again be represented with an embassy in Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Ministry in Tehran announced that as part of the rapprochement between the two states, the Iranian embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh will reopen this Tuesday.
In addition, a consulate in the coastal city of Jeddah is to resume work. In May, Iran had already appointed another ambassador for the influential Gulf state.
Saudi Arabia also wants to reopen its embassy in Iran, but the exact date has not yet been set.
After seven years of diplomatic ice age, the two countries have been moving closer together again since March of this year. The rapprochement had come about under the mediation of China.
Major upheavals possible in the region
Iran and Saudi Arabia are struggling for political and military influence in the region. Iran sees itself as the protector of the Shiites, Saudi Arabia claims this role for Sunnis. Both countries are on different sides in conflicts that have plagued the region for years, above all the civil wars in Yemen and Syria. In addition, Saudi Arabia has always sharply criticized Iran for its nuclear program.
A rapprochement could now lead to major upheavals – including in the civil war country of Yemen, where the countries support rival sides.
aeh/dpa