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Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after seven years of closing it, a diplomatic source told AFP, in a Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal announced in March.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016, after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked during protests over Riyadh’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The Iranian diplomatic mission, which was expelled by the Saudi authorities, will return under the leadership of Alireza Enayatiwho previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait.
“Opening Iranian embassy A diplomatic source in Riyadh told AFP today, Monday, that an appointment will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, at six o’clock in the evening local time (1500 GMT), in the presence of the newly appointed Iranian ambassador “to Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm when it will reopen its embassy in Tehran or choose an ambassador.
Iranian media appointed Enayati as the Islamic Republic’s envoy to Saudi Arabia last month.
He previously held the position of Assistant Foreign Minister and Director General for Gulf Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Iranian media reports.
After years of rift, the two Middle Eastern heavyweights signed a surprise reconciliation agreement in China on March 10.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored relations with Tehran’s ally Syria and stepped up its efforts for peace in Yemen, where it led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for years.
Iran and Saudi Arabia backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years before repairing relations.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016, after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked during protests over Riyadh’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The Iranian diplomatic mission, which was expelled by the Saudi authorities, will return under the leadership of Alireza Enayatiwho previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait.
“Opening Iranian embassy A diplomatic source in Riyadh told AFP today, Monday, that an appointment will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, at six o’clock in the evening local time (1500 GMT), in the presence of the newly appointed Iranian ambassador “to Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm when it will reopen its embassy in Tehran or choose an ambassador.
Iranian media appointed Enayati as the Islamic Republic’s envoy to Saudi Arabia last month.
He previously held the position of Assistant Foreign Minister and Director General for Gulf Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Iranian media reports.
After years of rift, the two Middle Eastern heavyweights signed a surprise reconciliation agreement in China on March 10.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored relations with Tehran’s ally Syria and stepped up its efforts for peace in Yemen, where it led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for years.
Iran and Saudi Arabia backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years before repairing relations.
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