Beijing — Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed Thursday to reopen diplomatic missions in their respective capitals and in additional cities, Iran’s semiofficial news agency said. ISNA reported the foreign ministers had reached the agreement in Beijing. The deal also calls for the countries to study the prospects of resuming flights between the two nations and facilitating the visa process for the citizens of both countries.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are long-time regional rivals but have moved toward reconciliation as part of the efforts made by China last month. The agreement represents a new step toward reconciliation after seven years of tension and lowers the chance of armed conflict between the Mideast rivals — both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.
