A number of countries in the region welcomed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s move to re-establish their diplomatic relations after a seven-year split.
The agreement comes at the request of China based on which both sides have agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months after China-mediated talks in Beijing.
Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain among other countries welcomed the agreement.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also celebrated the announcement and thanked China for brokering the deal, noting the friendly relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran contribute to the stability in the Gulf region, said the UN chief’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“I welcome this initiative. I congratulate the leadership of all three countries,” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said at the UN headquarters on Friday.
Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and National Security Advisor, led the Saudi delegation, and Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, led the Iranian delegation during talks in Beijing from Monday to Friday, according to a trilateral statement.
The two countries have also agreed to hold talks between foreign ministers to arrange the exchange of ambassadors and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
