Iran and Saudi Arabiathe two Shiite and Sunni powers of middle East and traditional enemies, today announced an agreement to restore their diplomatic relationsbroken by Riyadh in 2016 after the attacks suffered in its diplomatic headquarters in the Persian country.

The agreement includes the reopening of its embassies and has been signed in China, who has acted as a mediator between the two oil powers that for years have been fighting for regional hegemony and supporting rival factions in conflicts in the area. “The Islamic Republic of Tehran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have decided to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies in two months“, indicates a joint communiqué signed by the three countries.

Tehran and Riyadh have held talks in Beijing since Monday, led by the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, and the Saudi National Security Adviser, Musaid Al Aiban, according to the Iranian agency Tasnim. A video broadcast on Iranian television of the signing of the agreement in Beijing shows Shamkhani and Al Aiban together with the head of the Chinese Communist Party’s Foreign Office, Wang Yi, who highlights the “wisdom” of both countries.

respect for sovereignty

As part of the deal, Tehran and Riyadh pledge to “respect the sovereignty of the countries and non-interference in their internal affairs”. In addition, a 2001 security agreement and 1998 cooperation memorandums on economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth are reactivated. “Relations between Tehran and Riyadh will lead to the development of regional stability and security and will increase cooperation between the countries of the Persian Gulf and the Islamic world to face existing challenges,” Shamkhani said after the signing of the agreement, according to Iranian Presstv television.

For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hosein Amir Abdolahian, stated on Twitter that the return to normality in their relations “provides great capabilities to both countries, the region and the Islamic world”. A similar position was expressed by his Saudi colleague, Faisal bin Farhan, on Twitter, assuring that Riyadh “prefers political solutions and dialogue” and stressing that “the countries of the region have the same destiny and common denominators, which makes it necessary for us to cooperate to build a model of prosperity and stability for our peoples”. Abdolahian and bin Farhan “will meet to activate the agreement, arrange the exchange of ambassadors and discuss ways to strengthen relations between them.”

The statement said the Beijing talks were made possible by an offer from the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingwhich both countries, traditional arch-enemies, accepted based on “their desire to resolve the differences between them through dialogue and diplomacy within the framework of the fraternal ties that unite them.”

Regional reactions did not wait. Oman has welcomed the agreement “with satisfaction” and “hope” that it contributes to strengthening security and stability in the region, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, for its part, “receives with satisfaction the agreement between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to which a new page of diplomatic relations between the two countries is opened,” according to a statement. Another prominent reaction came from Egypt, which has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979, and whose Foreign Ministry said that it “follows the announcement with interest of the” Saudi-Iranian agreement and “aspires to help reduce tension in the region”.

regional rivals

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2016 after the attacks suffered in its diplomatic headquarters in the Persian country as a result of the execution in the Arab kingdom of an important Shiite cleric. In April 2021, secret talks began between Tehran and Riyadh in Baghdad, which were later made public.

In addition, the two parties also maintained contacts in Oman, without any progress being announced. Iran and Saudi Arabia, considered the Shiite and Sunni powers of the Middle East, respectively, regional hegemony has been disputed for years and support rival sides in conflicts in the area.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of promoting terrorism in the region by supporting the Houthi rebels in Yemen or the militias of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, as well as trying to destabilize the political regimes in the area.