Iran\u2019s foreign ministry said on Sunday a delegation will visit Saudi Arabia by Friday to pave the way for reopening its diplomatic missions there following a similar move by Riyadh.
\nThe announcement comes a day after a Saudi delegation arrived in Tehran on a similar diplomatic trip, and follows a historic meeting between the two Gulf countries\u2019 foreign ministers in China.
\n\u201cWe are expecting a foreign ministry delegation to visit Saudi Arabia\u201d by Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Enayati said in an interview with state television.
\n\u201cTwo separate delegations will go to Riyadh and Jeddah\u201d, ahead of reopening Iran\u2019s embassy and consulate respectively.
\nSaudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in January 2016, after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the north-western city of Mashhad were attacked by protesters demonstrating over Riyadh\u2019s execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
\nIranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan met in the Chinese capital on Thursday after Tehran and Riyadh agreed last month to restore diplomatic ties.
\nIn a joint statement, the ministers pledged to bring back security and stability to the turbulent Gulf.
\nIran and Saudi Arabia have backed rival sides in conflict zones across the region, including in Yemen.
\nIranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited by Saudi King Salman to Riyadh, a trip planned to take place after Ramazan.
\nRiyadh leads a military coalition that supports the internationally recognised government in the Arabian Peninsula country, while Tehran backs the Houthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and large areas of the north.
\nThe two Middle East powerhouses had held several rounds of dialogue in Iraq and Oman before reaching the agreement in Beijing, negotiated over five days between Iran\u2019s secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and his Saudi counterpart Musaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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