Iran's Embassy in Riyadh reopens after 7 years

As part of the normalization agreement reached between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh was reopened after 7 years with an official ceremony attended by officials from both countries. 

Iranian Foreign Ministry Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ali Reza Begdeli and Iran's interim Representative in Jeddah Hassan Zernagari were present at the ceremony.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that the Embassy in Riyadh will reopen today. 

Ministry spokesman Nasser Kenani also announced that the consulate in Jeddah and the permanent representative office of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will officially resume operations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

IRAN-SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS

Following the execution of 47 people, including Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, in Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2016 on "terrorism" charges, the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the consulate building in the city of Mashhad were set on fire by demonstrators reacting to the executions. In response, Riyadh decided to cut all diplomatic relations with Iran.

Following a meeting in Beijing, the capital of China, on March 10, an agreement was reached on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after 7 years. 

Within the framework of the agreement, it was stated that Iran and Saudi Arabia would resume diplomatic relations within two months and the two countries would reopen their embassies and representative offices.