UN Chief Lauds Resumption of Iran-Saudi Ties As ’Turning Point’ In Region

By Staff, Agencies

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on restoration of diplomatic ties after seven years of estrangement, terming it as “a turning point” that marks the beginning of a new era of constructive interactions in the Middle East.

Guterres made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Thursday evening.

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by Beijing, Tehran and Riyadh clinched a deal on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies.

The meeting between Amir Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on April 6 marked the first such meeting in seven years and emphasized the need to implement the China-brokered agreement.

The detente has been lauded by both sides as having the potential to ease tensions in the Middle East region.

Diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran were severed by Saudi Arabia in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, angered by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi government, stormed its embassy in Tehran.

For his part, Amir Abdollahian described as positive the closed-door summit on Afghanistan in Qatar, stating that Iran has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees and assisting them with various services for decades.

Management of such a high number of refugees requires international attention and support, the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.

He also expressed hope that the war and siege in Yemen would end as soon as possible.

Amir Abdollahian continued to underline Iran's vehement opposition to Ukraine war, expressing hope that the involved parties would return to the path of dialogue, end the war and establish peace.

The Iranian foreign minister and the UN chief also discussed the course of talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], and the removal of sanctions, besides Tehran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to resolve remaining misunderstandings.