Iran and Saudi Arabia Commit to Strengthening Diplomatic Relations
Click to start listening
Tehran, Jan 6 (NationPress) Iranian Justice Minister Amin-Hossein Rahimi convened with Saudi Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi, during which they committed to enhancing bilateral relations in multiple areas, particularly in the judicial and legal sectors.
Rahimi expressed his contentment on Sunday regarding the revival of amicable relations between the two nations since 2023, emphasizing the significance of robust, effective, and strategic ties between Tehran and Riyadh, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing Iran’s official news outlet IRNA.
He highlighted the Iranian government's consistent policy aimed at fostering friendly relations with all nations, particularly with neighboring countries, and urged for the enhancement of connections between Iran and Saudi Arabia in cultural, economic, and political realms, according to the report.
Ambassador al-Anzi characterized his discussions with the Iranian officials as productive and expressed optimism that the growth of bilateral relations across all sectors, especially in judicial and legal fields, would pave the way for a remarkable advancement in the relations of these brotherly and friendly nations, as per the report.
On Wednesday, Iran summoned al-Anzi to express its discontent over the execution of six Iranian nationals sentenced for drug smuggling offenses in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, claiming that these executions undermined judicial cooperation efforts between the two nations.
In April 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations effective immediately.
Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, which occurred after the execution of a Shiite cleric by Saudi authorities.
Earlier in November 2024, General Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili of the Saudi armed forces engaged in discussions with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, representing a crucial development in defense relations between the two regional powers following their diplomatic thaw in 2023.
Al-Ruwaili met with Mohammad Baqeri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, to discuss avenues for bolstering military collaboration.
