Saudi Arabia has extended an official invitation to Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, signaling a significant shift in the relationship between the regional rivals. The two countries have agreed to restore diplomatic relations and work towards easing longstanding tensions.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, made history on Saturday by becoming the first senior Saudi official to visit Tehran in approximately two decades. During a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, he emphasized the importance of a relationship based on “mutual respect,” “non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs,” and the protection of shipping corridors and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Prince Faisal also expressed his intention to meet with President Raisi to convey greetings from Saudi’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and extend their invitation to visit Riyadh.
“We hope that the restoration of ties will have positive impacts on the two countries, the region, and the entire Islamic world,” he stated, as translated in Persian.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, highlighted the focus of the talks on “sustainable economic cooperation” and joint ventures between the private sectors of both countries. He emphasized that, for Iran, security encompasses not just militarization but also political, economic, and trade ties with regional nations.
Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are predominantly comprised of Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively, formally agreed to restore diplomatic ties in March through a groundbreaking agreement signed in China. This agreement effectively ended a seven-year rift that had fueled tensions in the Islamic world.
While both countries have yet to appoint ambassadors, Iran has already reopened its embassy in Riyadh earlier this month, while Saudi diplomats currently reside in a hotel in northwestern Tehran. The Saudi embassy had been damaged when it was stormed by hardline groups in 2016 during protests against the execution of a dissident Shia cleric. This incident led to Riyadh severing ties with Tehran.
The improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have raised hopes that they could contribute to ending the ongoing Yemen war. This conflict was initiated by a Saudi-led coalition in 2015 following the seizure of much of the country by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supporting the rebels and launching drone and missile strikes against both Saudi Arabia and its coalition partner, the UAE.
Iran has also managed to defuse tensions with the UAE, which agreed last year to reinstate its ambassador to Tehran.
“Iran is seeking to resolve regional issues to increase the efficiency of its political system and address economic challenges,” revealed a knowledgeable figure within the Iranian government. “Mohammed bin Salman, with his long-term development plans, needed this agreement with Iran to reduce the frequency of Houthi missile attacks. He is even considering paving the way for Saudi investments in Iran. This would be beneficial to both parties. The era of cooperation has arrived.”
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