Saudi technical team arrives in Iran to discuss embassy reopening

Officials visit Tehran as countries progress re-establishment of diplomatic ties

Regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 11 to restore ties and reopen diplomatic missions in a surprise, Chinese-brokered announcement that could have wide-ranging implications across the Middle East. AFPShow less

A Saudi technical team arrived in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian counterparts on key aspects of the China-brokered deal that will see the two countries revive diplomatic relations.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said officials were discussing “the mechanisms for reopening the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and the Consulate General in Mashhad”.

The Saudi team visited the embassy on Sunday morning, according to the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency. It reported that Iranian officials would be sent on a similar mission to Saudi Arabia in the coming week.

“The Iranian technical delegation will visit Tehran's embassy in Riyadh and make arrangements for the reopening of Iran's embassy in Saudi Arabia,” Isna reported.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to resume direct flights, another major step in the path towards restoring ties since the agreement to do so was announced last month.

Their foreign ministers, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Hossein Amirabdollahian, met in Beijing on Thursday, while higher-level talks are expected to follow.

An eventual reopening of the diplomatic missions in both countries will enable the issuing of visas for each other's citizens and both private and state bilateral visits will resume. Iran’s embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah would eventually reopen under the terms of the discussions reported last week.

In 2016, Riyadh severed ties with Tehran after protesters raided Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in the kingdom. It was only one of many issues between the long-standing rivals.

Efforts to resume relations picked up two years ago with private discussions hosted by Iraq and Oman, before culminating last month in Beijing with Chinese mediation.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian with Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing. AFP

Prince Faisal with Mr Qin. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia / Twitter

China's National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. AFP

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and French President Emmanuel Macron at a meeting at the Great Hall of the People. AFP

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing. AFP

Emmanuel Macron arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport. EPA