Iran media hails thaw with Saudi Arabia as top diplomats meet in China
Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing on Thursday as China's role expands in the Middle East.
TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Beijing on Thursday as constructive, in their bid to find a path toward reconciliation following more than seven years of hostilities.
Amir-Abdollahian wrote on Twitter Thursday that the pair "stressed stability, sustainable security and development in the region." The meeting is the first extensive gathering on the foreign ministerial level between Riyadh and Tehran since 2014, and the first to brokered by China building on its strong ties with both parties.
The talks in Beijing covered a range of topics, including the official resetting of Saudi-Iranian diplomatic relations, reopening of embassies and resumption of Hajj pilgrimage for Iranians, as well as economic and trade ties, according to the Iranian minister.
Iran's state broadcaster showed the Chinese foreign minister standing between the two sides, having them shake hands less than a month after top security officials from Tehran and Riyadh agreed in the same city to resume relations.
