Iran’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday that a delegation will travel to Saudi Arabia by Friday to prepare for the reopening of its diplomatic missions there in response to a similar step by Riyadh.
The statement followed a historic meeting between the foreign ministers of the two Gulf nations in China, which took place the day after a Saudi delegation landed in Tehran on a related diplomatic mission.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Enayati said in an interview with state television, “We are expecting a foreign ministry delegation to visit Saudi Arabia. Two separate delegations will go to Riyadh and Jeddah.”
After Tehran and Riyadh decided to reestablish diplomatic relations last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi colleague Prince Faisal bin Farhan met on Thursday in the Chinese capital.
The ministers promised to restore security and stability to the tumultuous Gulf in a joint statement.
In conflict-ridden areas all over the region, including Yemen, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have supported opposing parties.
Saudi King extended an invitation to the president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, to travel to Riyadh after Ramadan.
Iran backs the Houthi rebels, who hold sway over the country’s capital Sanaa and significant portions of the north, while Riyadh commands a military coalition that supports the globally recognized government on the Arabian Peninsula.
