Bitter rivals Iran & Saudi Arabia resume ties, to activate 1998 trade agreement

Bitter rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish relations open embassies years after diplomatic tensions in the Gulf and conflicts from Yemen to SyriaThe two leading Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers in the Middle East have been at odds for years and backed opposite sides in proxy wars from Yemen to Syria and elsewhereTop security officials of the two countries reached an agreement in Beijing As a result of the talks Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassieswithin two months IRNA Iranrsquos news agency reportedBoth the countries have also agreed to activate Trade Economy Investment agreement signed in 1998The United States has said that it is aware of reports that Iran and Saudi Arabia have resumed diplomatic relations but referred further details to the Saudis a White House National Security Council spokesperson said on FridayGenerally speaking we welcome any efforts to help end the war in Yemen and deescalate tensions in the Middle East region Deescalation and diplomacy together with deterrence are key pillars of the policy President Biden outlined during his visit to the region last year the spokesperson saidMedia of both the countries Iran and Saudi Arabia said a statement by the two countries emphasised respect for sovereignty and noninterference in each others internal affairsSaudi Arabias state news agency said they also agreed to activate a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 as well as another earlier accord on trade economy and investmentIrans top security official Ali Shamkhani who signed the agreement with Saudi Arabias national security adviser Musaed bin Mohammed AlAiban praised China for its role in the rapprochement Irans Nour News reportedAlso readUN agency calls for probe of schoolgirl poisonings in IranBoth Saudi Arabia and Iran thanked Iraq and Oman for hosting talks in 2021 and 2022In an official statement Oman welcomed the trilateral statement between Saudi Arabia Iran and China on resumption of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and TehranSaudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadhs execution of a Shiite Muslim clericA senior Iranian security official said Fridays agreement had been endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei That is why Shamkhani travelled to China as the supreme leaderrsquos representativerdquo the official said With inputs from Agencies