Iranian ambassador arrives in Saudi Arabia as diplomatic relations thaw

Enayati arrived in the Saudi capital earlier today, where he was warmly received by officials from the Saudi Foreign Ministry and Iranian embassy staff.

Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to Iran, Abdullah bin Saud Alanazi, a seasoned diplomat who previously served as the Saudi ambassador to Oman, arrived in Tehran to assume his post.

On Saturday, Ambassador Enayati held a crucial meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister, Amirabdollahian, during which he outlined his plans for strengthening the ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Amirabdollahian stressed the importance of pursuing a neighborly policy and underscored the significance of deepening relations between the two nations, given the substantial cooperation opportunities they share.

Notably, Alireza Enayati brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to his role, having previously served as Iran's ambassador to Kuwait and held various other diplomatic positions.

This diplomatic milestone follows a landmark China-brokered agreement reached in March, which paved the way for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

These relations had been severed for seven years following protests in Iran against the execution of the prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.

In June, Iran officially reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia, coinciding with the historic visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to the Islamic Republic, marking his first trip to the country since the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

This development is expected to have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and beyond, as Iran and Saudi Arabia work towards enhanced cooperation and regional stability. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving diplomatic story. (ILKHA)