Saudi Arabia and Iran to meet for talks during Ramadan

Top officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran are expected to meet during Ramadan, the kingdom’s official news agency SPA said yesterday.

Tehran and Riyadh reached an agreement in early March to resume diplomatic relations after years of hostility.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, held a second phone call in a week, with the two officials agreeing to meet.

They discussed “a number of common issues”, pointing out the meeting came “in light of” the agreement brokered by China, the news agency reported.

An exact date or place for the meeting has not been specified.

The meeting is intended to restore ties seven years after they were cut, according to Saudi officials.

In 2016, Riyadh broke relations with Tehran after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in the kingdom.

The Beijing-brokered deal will see Riyadh and Tehran reopen their embassies and consulates within the next two months.

In their meeting, the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers will begin arranging the exchange of ambassadors and discuss ways to strengthen the countries’ renewed relations.

The two states will reactivate a 2001 security co-operation agreement and 1998 deals on the economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth.

Experts predict that the new relations will change and reshape the region that has been dominated by instability and turbulence over the years.

An Iranian official said on March 19 that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had favourably received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia from King Salman, although Riyadh has yet to confirm.