. Iran, Saudi foreign ministers hold consultations in Tehran

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, June 17, traveled to Tehran at the head of a delegation in response to an official invitation by Iran’s top diplomat Hossein Amirabdollahian and held talks with his Iranian counterpart.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, June 17, traveled to Tehran at the head of a delegation in response to an official invitation by Iran’s top diplomat Hossein Amirabdollahian and held talks with his Iranian counterpart.

This is the Saudi foreign minister’s first official visit to Tehran after the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries. At the meeting, Amirabdollahian and bin Farhan discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest between Tehran and Riyadh as well their cooperation at international organizations.

Amirabdollahian referred to his previous meetings with the top Saudi diplomat in Beijing and Cape Town, describing bin Farhan’s trip to Tehran as a positive step toward completing their correct past moves aimed at promoting their ties and opening a new chapter in ties between the two Muslim and neighboring countries.

Amirabdollahian also said he is pleased with the reopening of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Riyadh as well as its General Consulate and diplomatic mission at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah. He thanked the Saudi side for its assistance in this regard, noting that the imminent reopening of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its Consulate General in Mashhad would pave the way for facilitating ties between the two Muslim nations and joint follow-up and coordination by the two governments. Amirabdollahian referred to the presence of Iranian Hajj pilgrims as well as Muslim brothers and sisters from other countries in the Land of Revelation to perform Hajj rituals, calling for necessary arrangements for the performing of minor Hajj, or Umrah, by Iranians in the next stage. He also announced the Islamic Republic of Iran’s readiness for facilitating visits by Saudi citizens and for properly hosting them for pilgrimage and sightseeing trips to different cities of Iran.

In other remarks, Amirabdollahian welcomed any move to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, calling for launching a joint economic commission to this end and for holding a meeting of the commission in the near future.

The foreign minister of Iran also proposed the formation of joint consultation committees and exchange of expert views in order to bolster political and consular ties as well as relations in such areas as tourism, transit, land, sea and air transportation, energy, environment, fisheries and fighting drug trafficking.

He further described the issue of Palestine as the first issue of the Muslim world. Referring to the happiness of Palestinians over the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Amirabdollahian stressed the need to use the joint possibilities of the two important Islamic countries to support the rights of the Palestinian people.

The Saudi foreign minister also thanked Amirabdollahian for extending an official invitation to him to visit Iran as well as the warm welcome by the Iranian side. Bin Farhan described today's talks as a continuation of bilateral negotiations and agreements between the two countries in recent months, saying this will bring blessings for the two nations. He underlined Riyadh’s determination to expand ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and to open a new page in the relations.

The Saudi foreign minister also said the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia and their move to strengthen constructive relations, in addition to bringing blessings for the two nations, will have positive results for regional countries.

Bin Farhan also said Amirabdollahian’s  visit to Riyadh in the near future would be a proper chance to complete  consultations in areas of mutual interest including bilateral issues. 

Bin Farhan further referred to the previous official invitation extended by the Saudi king to the Iranian president to visit Saudi Arabia, stressing Riyadh’s readiness to welcome him and to make the trip happen in the near future

 

It needs to be noted that in the meeting Amirabdollahian and bin Farhan also held talks over regional issues of mutual interest such as Sudan and Afghanistan as well as some international issues.