Iran announced that it expects to reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia by May 9, as set out in an agreement signed in March to resume relations between the two countries. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, both countries are required to reopen their embassies within two months of signing the agreement, which would allow Iranian pilgrims to go to Mecca for the major pilgrimage, the Hajj, using the services provided by the embassy.
Saudi Arabia and Iran severed relations in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic following the execution by Riyadh of a prominent Shiite cleric. To seal their reconciliation, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia after the end of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan. Tehran also invited King Salman of Saudi Arabia to travel to Iran.
Delegations from both countries have visited their respective embassies in Riyadh and Tehran, as well as consulates located in Jeddah and Mashhad, in recent days. Iranian and Saudi Foreign Ministers Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Fayçal ben Farhan met in Beijing on April 6 to outline the roadmap for normalization of relations and will meet again before the reopening of the embassies, according to Kanani.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are two countries with great weight in the Middle East, and the resumption of diplomatic relations is seen as an important step towards stability in the region.