Iranian Embassy in Jeddah reopens

On Monday 5 June, through a communiqué from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani (spokesman for the Ministry) announced the reopening, after 7 years of closure, of the Embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate General in Jeddah, and the Permanent Mission to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). An Iranian diplomatic legation officially opened its doors on Tuesday.

In order to facilitate the pilgrimages of Iranian nationals to Mecca during this year's Hajj, Nasser Kanaani also confirmed that "the Embassy and Consulate had already started operating to facilitate pilgrimages for the Hajj and will now officially reopen in the presence of the Foreign Ministry officials of the two countries".

Lalireza Enayati was appointed Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia from this diplomatic mission. He has previously served as Iran's ambassador to Kuwait and has served in the Iranian Foreign Ministry as director general of Persian Gulf Affairs.

Saudi Arabia has not yet officially confirmed the opening of the embassy or consulate in Iran, or who will serve as ambassador to that diplomatic delegation.

Following the attack on the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran in 2016 during protests over the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, both countries ceased diplomatic relations in the aftermath of this event, and consequently closed their embassies and consulates.

Thanks to China's intervention and mediation, the two countries have decided to restore diplomatic relations. After years of conflict that threatened stability and security in the Middle East, a Chinese-brokered agreement was announced in March to restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which had been fuelling regional conflicts from Yemen to Syria. The two nations, which are major oil exporters and strategic allies of Beijing, relied heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping as their mediator. 

The international community has seen the agreement as a positive step towards peace and stability in the region. During his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed encouragement and hope that the reopening of the Iranian embassy would result in improved relations between the Islamic Republic and the Saudi kingdom, the secretary said: "A more integrated, prosperous and stable region serves Israel's interests. It serves the interests of our regional partners. It serves the United States".

The resumption of Iranian and Saudi diplomatic missions is seen as a momentous event for both countries and the region. It marks a new beginning for dialogue and cooperation that could lead to greater peace and stability in the Middle East.