In another sign of rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the foreign ministers of the two rival countries, Hussein Amirabdollahian and Faisal bin Farhan, met in Beijing. This was reported by Chinese state television. The gathering was the first of its kind in more than seven years. Behind the scenes, China had mediated a fresh start between the two opponents.
The Saudi Arabian state broadcaster Al-Ekhbariya showed short footage of the meeting without giving any further details about the content. The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the meeting would include the reopening of the embassies of both countries.
Riyadh and Tehran want to settle differences
Tehran and Riyadh surprisingly announced last month that they wanted to resume diplomatic relations. The meeting of foreign ministers was announced as the first step. The ministers now met in strict secrecy. Riyadh and Tehran want to settle their differences through dialogue and reopen embassies within two months, according to a meeting of high-ranking government officials from both countries in Beijing in March. Saudi Arabia and Iran also announced at the time that they wanted to talk at the ministerial meeting about developing trade relations and cooperation on security issues.
Israel’s opposition had sharply criticized the rapprochement. Israel is Iran’s archenemy and has long been trying to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, including building a coalition against Tehran. Iran has challenged Israel’s right to exist since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia-majority Iran have not maintained diplomatic relations in recent years. Both countries are struggling for political and military influence in the region. A rapprochement of the rivals could lead to major upheavals, including in civil war-torn Yemen, where countries support different sides.
Over the past year, both sides have cautiously approached each other at the diplomatic level. Several rounds of talks were held in Iraq with Iranian and Saudi officials, mostly on security issues.
Contacts with Tehran ended in January 2016
Iran and Saudi Arabia are both dependent on oil exports. Competition in the energy market had also contributed to their rivalry. Due to international sanctions because of its controversial nuclear program, however, Iran is largely excluded from the market.
Riyadh cut official ties with Tehran in January 2016 in response to an attack by Iranian protesters on the Saudi embassy in Iran. The protests were triggered by the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia.
