Tehran plans to reopen its embassy in Riyadh by May 9

A sign of openness. Iran hopes to resume its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia by May 9, as provided for in the agreement reached in March aimed at restoring relations between Riyadh and Tehran, Iranian diplomacy announced on Monday April 17.

According to this text, signed on March 10 in Beijing after mediation by China, the two countries are “supposed to reopen embassies within two months” following the conclusion of the agreement, said Nasser Kanani, the spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his weekly conference.

Warming up after seven years of crisis

Saudi Arabia and Iran, two Middle Eastern heavyweights, severed ties in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic, sparked by the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia.

Their reconciliation is to be celebrated during a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Saudi Arabia, scheduled after the end of Ramadan. Tehran also has “invited King Salman of Saudi Arabia to visit Iran”, said Nasser Kanani. Bilateral visits have also multiplied in recent weeks.