Iran to Reopen its Embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday, Source Says

People stand outside the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz El Yaakoubi
People stand outside the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz El Yaakoubi
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Iran to Reopen its Embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday, Source Says

People stand outside the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz El Yaakoubi
People stand outside the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz El Yaakoubi

Iran will reportedly reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital on Tuesday, a diplomat in Riyadh said, months after Tehran and Riyadh agreed to restore diplomatic ties.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016, after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked.

"The opening of the Iranian embassy will take place Tuesday at 6:00 pm local time (1500 GMT) with the presence of the newly appointed Iranian ambassador" to Saudi Arabia, a diplomatic source in Riyadh told AFP on Monday.

Iran's diplomatic mission will return under the leadership of Alireza Enayati, who previously served as Iran's ambassador to Kuwait.

Iranian media had named Enayati as Iran’s Saudi envoy last month.

He had previously served as assistant to the foreign minister and director general of Gulf affairs at the foreign ministry, according to Iranian media reports.

After years of discord Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a surprise reconciliation agreement in China on March 10.

 



GCC Secretary General Welcomes Statement Issued at Madrid Meeting on Two-State Solution

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
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GCC Secretary General Welcomes Statement Issued at Madrid Meeting on Two-State Solution

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, has welcomed at statement issued by several countries that met in Madrid on implementing the two-state solution.

Held in Madrid on Friday, the event included participants from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Türkiye, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Al-Budaiwi affirmed the firm position of the GCC countries in supporting the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ensuring the return of refugees in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.

The statement issued following the Madrid meeting said that “the international community must take active steps to implement the two-state solution, including universal recognition of the State of Palestine, and its admission as a full member of the United Nations.”

It also called for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, including from the Philadelphi corridor.