Iran says willing to expand relations with Saudi Arabia

By Mustafa Ahıshali and Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – Iran said Wednesday that it is willing to expand its relations with Saudi Arabia across all fields.

This came in a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

According to the Iranian state television, the message was handed by Iran’s Ambassador to Riyadh, Alireza Enayati, to Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khereiji.

The message focused on “developing and strengthening ties in all areas,” the broadcaster said.

Diplomatic representation between Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed in September 2023, for the first time since they severed ties in 2016.

Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the restoration of diplomatic relations on March 10, 2023, following talks brokered by China in Beijing.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in 2016 after attacks on its embassy in the Iranian capital and its consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad. The attacks followed Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who had been convicted on “terrorism-related charges.”