DUBAI: Iran officially invited Saudi Arabia’s king to visit country, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said after two regional rivals agreed to end years of hostility following China-brokered agreement in March.

After years of bad relations that fuelled proxy conflicts across Middle East, where Tehran and Riyadh backed opposite sides from Yemen to Syria, Shi’ite revolutionary Iran and Sunni-led Kingdom reached an agreement to end seven-year diplomatic rift. “Iranian President (Ebrahim Raisi) has sent an invitation to Saudi king in return for an invitation by Riyadh for him,” Nasser Kanaani told a televised news conference.

Technical delegations from both countries are preparing to officially reopen their missions and Tehran said these missions would restart their activities by May 9, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News agency reported. Earlier on March 10, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility which had threatened stability and security in Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

Deal was announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from two

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 18 2023

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