- A deal to reestablish relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran was brokered by China, sending a message about Beijing’s potential new role in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties, reopen embassies and exchange ambassadors within a period of two months, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
The decision to re-establish relations, which were severed in 2016, came following talks that took place from March 6 through March 10 in Beijing, SPA reported citing a trilateral statement issued by the Kingdom, Iran and China.
“Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to respect state sovereignty and not interfere in internal matters,” the statement said, adding that the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet soon to arrange for the exchange of envoys and discuss means to enhance ties.
Riyadh and Tehran also agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the trade, economy and investment agreement signed in 1998.
According to the statement, China’s President Xi Jinping had made an initiative to host and sponsor talks between delegates from Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve disputes via dialogue and diplomacy.
The Saudi delegation was headed by Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, while the Iranian delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
During the talks, China was represented by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.
Saudi Arabia and Iran thanked China for hosting and sponsoring the recent talks and for the efforts exerted to help them succeed. They also thanked Iraq and Oman for hosting dialogue sessions between the two countries’ representatives in 2021 and 2022.
“Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are keen on making all [necessary] efforts to strengthen regional and international peace and security.”
During the last round of talks before signing the agreement, al-Aiban said that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Xi’s initiative based on the Kingdom’s adherence to the principles of good neighborliness and to the principle of resorting to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.
“King Salman and the Crown Prince thank President Xi Jinping for the kind initiative… [that aims] to develop good neighborly relations between the Kingdom and Iran,” al-Aiban said according to SPA.
“The agreement today [is the fruit] of the in-depth talks supported by the leadership of all three countries,” he said, adding that discussions addressed the “causes of disputes and means to solve them.”
“Respecting state sovereignty and not interfering in internal matters is an essential pillar to develop relations between countries and strengthen security and stability in our region,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wang said that the successful talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing are a victory for dialogue and peace, Reuters reported.
“This is a victory for dialogue, a victory for peace, offering major good news at a time of much turbulence in the world,” the Chinese foreign ministry cited Wang as saying at the close of the dialogue.
“As a good-faith and reliable mediator, China has faithfully fulfilled its duties as the host,” Wang said.
China will continue to play a constructive role in handling hotspot issues in the world and demonstrate its responsibility as a major nation, he added.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran after two of its diplomatic posts were attacked in Tehran and Mashhad in 2016.
Flames rise from Saudi Arabia’s embassy during a demonstration in Tehran on January 2, 2016. (Reuters)
Demonstrators stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in protest of Riyadh’s executions of 47 people convicted of terrorism, which include Shia preacher Nimr al-Nimr and al-Qaeda ideologue Fares al-Shuwail.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement while United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed the gratitude of the United Nations Secretary-General to China for hosting the recent talks, and the United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the efforts of other countries in this regard, especially the Oman and Iraq.
The French Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that the Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna supports dialogue and any initiative that can make a tangible contribution to calming tensions and strengthening regional security and stability.
The Hashmite Kingdom of Jordan on Friday welcomed the trilateral statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China on resuming diplomatic relations, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Amman expressing hope that this agreement would contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region, in a way that preserves the sovereignty of states while avoiding interference in their internal affairs, and serves common interests.
Pakistan said that it firmly believes that this important diplomatic breakthrough will contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
In a statement, Pakistan said: “We commend the role played by China’s visionary leadership in coordinating this historic agreement which reflects the power of constructive engagement and meaningful dialogue. We laud sagacious leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran for this very positive development,”
The statement also affirmed, “Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in the Middle East and the region. We hope this positive step would be a role model for regional cooperation and harmony.”
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs also commended the initiative of the friendly President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to host the Saudi-Iranian bilateral talks and affirmed Kuwait’s support for this agreement, hoping that it would contribute to strengthening the pillars of security and stability in the region, and build trust and develop friendly relations between both countries in a way that serves the interest of the countries of the region and the whole world.
The Kingdom of Bahrain also welcomed the agreement. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s appreciation for the initiative of the People’s Republic of China to host the Saudi-Iranian talks, hailing earlier Iraqi and Omani diplomatic efforts in this regard.
The Ministry also expressed hope that this agreement would constitute a positive step on the road to resolving differences and ending all regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means, and establishing relations on the basis of mutual understanding, respect, good neighborliness, non-interference in the affairs of other countries, and adherence to the charters of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international laws and norms.
It praised the leading role of Saudi Arabia in supporting security, peace, and stability, as well as in pursuing diplomacy in settling regional and international disputes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye also welcomed the agreement. In a statement, it congratulated the two countries on the agreement, which it said contributes significantly to laying the foundations for security in the region.
With Agency reports
