Iran’s foreign minister to visit Saudi Arabia

International Desk, Aug 14 (EFE).- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is expected to visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days, as the two countries gradually restore diplomatic relations after years of tensions.

Accompanying Abdollahian on this official visit will be Tehran’s new ambassador to Riyadh, Alireza Enayati.

“I will travel to Saudi Arabia in the next few days and the Iranian ambassador will accompany me,” Abdollahian said at a press conference in Tehran.

The foreign minister underlined the dispatch of diplomats between Tehran and Riyadh had been delayed due to observance of Eid al-Adha holiday and the occurrence of heatwaves in the region.

Although authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact date of the visit, Iranian media has reported that Abdollahian’s trip to the Saudi kingdom is likely to take place on Thursday.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, two rival countries representing the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, respectively, agreed in March to normalize diplomatic relations, which had been severed since 2016.

Following the diplomatic breakthrough, Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh in early June, while Saudi Arabia reestablished its diplomatic presence in Tehran earlier this month.

In June, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan embarked on his first official visit to Tehran where he met his Iranian counterpart to discuss expansion of bilateral relations and regional and international issues.

Riyadh broke ties with Tehran in 2016 after protesters stormed its diplomatic headquarters in Iran following Saudi Arabia’s execution of a popular Shia Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr. EFE

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