Saudi, Iranian Foreign Ministers Speak by Phone

March 24, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—The Iran-Saudi rapprochement took another step forward yesterday. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin-Farhan put in a phone call to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. “The two ministers agreed to hold a bilateral meeting soon, in order to pave the way for the reopening of embassies and consulates between the two countries,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement, (in Arabic) reported Al Arabiya news agency. “At the beginning of the call, the two exchanged greetings and congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.”  Ramadan this year extends from March 22 to April 20.

In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani expressed hope that the March 10 agreement to restore ties between Tehran and Riyadh would play a positive role in increasing stability, peace, regional development, and dialogue-oriented approaches in the Persian Gulf region, reported Tasnim. Kanaani also praised the roles of China, Iraq, and Oman in helping the two countries resume political relations. He considered the support of regional countries for the agreement as a sign of commitment to strengthening diplomatic initiatives at the regional level.