After seven years of dispute and estrangement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it was officially announced that the two nations have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations.
The deal was made possible thanks to Chinese sponsorship, which facilitated the signing last Friday in Beijing, ending the long-running dispute between the two countries, which are now set to reopen their embassies within two months.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Tehran’s representative to the agreements, said: “At the no end of the talks, we came to a conclusion, [it is necessary] to start a new chapter after seven years of severed relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as to consider the affairs of both countries and the security and future of the region, to avoid the meddling of countries from other regions and the West, and the permanent meddling of the Zionist regime in the region.
The news comes at a time of growing tensions between Washington and Tehran, as well as Washington and Beijing.
The US government cautiously applauded the deal and argued that it is not a sign of growing Chinese influence globally, while US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US would not “withdraw” from the Middle East.
