• Saudi and Iranian Foreign Minister , Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet shortly.
• Iran and Saudia Arabia agreed earlier this month to re-establish contacts.
• According to sources, the ministers spoke by phone to commemorate Ramadan.

According to sources, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet shortly and prepare the way for the re-opening of embassies as part of a plan to re-establish contacts.

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed earlier this month to re-establish contacts after a hiatus of many years.

According to sources, the ministers spoke by phone to commemorate Ramadan.

During the call, Amirabdollahian emphasised Iran’s willingness to deepen relations with Saudi Arabia, according to sources.

The two nations’ foreign ministers agreed to meet as soon as possible to begin preparations for the reopening of embassies and consulates, according to sources.

China facilitated the arrangement between the two countries, which was unveiled following previously unreported negotiations between top security officials from both countries in Beijing.

Experts believe that de-escalation would benefit both parties, as Iran aims to undermine American efforts to isolate it in the area and Saudi Arabia seeks to focus on economic growth.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016 following the storming of its embassy in Tehran during a disagreement between the two nations over Riyadh’s killing of a cleric.

In addition, the monarchy has blamed Iran for missile and drone assaults on its oil infrastructure in 2019, as well as tanker attacks in Gulf waterways. Iran has refuted the accusations.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has also launched cross-border missile and drone assaults against Saudi Arabia, which is leading a coalition battling the Houthis.

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