Powerhouses in the region Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to mend fences and reopen diplomatic missions on Friday, making a shocking statement that could have broad repercussions throughout the Middle East.
Shiite-majority Iran and predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia said in a trilateral statement that they will reopen their embassies and missions within two months and put into effect agreements for economic and security cooperation made more than 20 years ago.
Following the Saudi murder of renowned Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr in 2016, demonstrators in Iran stormed Saudi diplomatic missions. This was just one of several flashpoints between the two longtime enemies.
The declaration on Friday concludes a larger realignment and efforts to reduce tensions in the area. It comes after five days of previously unannounced negotiations in Beijing and many rounds of discussion in Iraq and Oman.
“Following talks, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months,” said the joint statement, which was published by both countries’ official media.
The detente between Iran, a pariah for Western countries due to its nuclear activities, and Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, has the potential to change relations in a region that has been plagued by unrest for decades.
In other war zones, notably Yemen, where Tehran supports the Huthi rebels and Riyadh heads a military coalition backing the government, Iran and Saudi Arabia back opposing parties. Moreover, the two groups compete for influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.