Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is expected to be in Riyadh on Thursday, his first official trip to Saudi Arabia since relations between the two countries were restored last March.
The one-day visit “focused on bilateral relations, regional and international issues”, said Iranian state media IRIB.
IRIB reported on Thursday (17/8) morning that Amir-Abdollahian “will leave Tehran for Riyadh in a few hours”.
Shia-dominated Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 after the Saudi diplomatic mission in the Islamic republic was attacked during protests against Riyadh’s execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The agreement brokered by China in March restored diplomatic ties between the two countries, and prompted them to reopen each other’s embassies.
In June, Prince Faisal bin Farhan became the first Saudi foreign minister to travel to Iran since 2006.
Earlier that month Iran had reopened its embassy in Riyadh with a flag-raising ceremony.
And in a first since bilateral ties were restored, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday that military officials from the two countries met in Moscow on the sidelines of a security conference.
Amir-Abdollahian said this week that Iran’s Saudi news ambassador, Alireza Enayati, “will accompany him” on Thursday’s visit to “officially begin his mission”.
On Aug. 9, Iran said the Saudi embassy in Tehran had started operating but Riyadh had yet to confirm.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have supported opposing sides in conflicts in the Middle East for years.
Iran has in recent months clashed with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over a disputed gas field.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait claimed “sole ownership” of the field — known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — with the caveat that Tehran would “claim its rights” in the offshore zone if negotiations failed. (ab/uh)
