Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia in Iraq and Norway met their Iranian counterparts during the iftar (breaking of fast) gathering held in Baghdad and Oslo respectively.

The meetings came ahead of the historic encounter between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir Abdollahian this Ramadan. Preparations are underway to hold the meeting as per the agreement reached between the two ministers during their phone conversation, following the announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 10.

The signing of the agreement and the phone calls brought in a friendly atmosphere among members of the diplomatic corps of the two countries all over the world. The month of Ramadan witnessed the meeting of the ambassadors of the two countries in Iraq and Norway for iftar banquets, which confirms the progress in activating the Beijing agreement and the return of relations to normal.

Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Abdulaziz Al-Shammari attended an iftar banquet hosted by the Iranian Ambassador in Baghdad Muhammad Al-Sadiq on Tuesday. A number of ambassadors accredited to the Iraqi capital also attended the iftar.

On her part, Saudi Ambassador to Norway Amal Yahya Al-Moallimi hosted the annual Ramadan iftar banquet in the presence of the Iranian Ambassador Ali Reza Yousefi, along with the heads of Arab and Islamic diplomatic missions accredited to Norway.

The Iranian ambassador said in a statement on his Twitter account that it was a pleasure to participate in the iftar party of Saudi Ambassador Al-Moallimi at her residence. The recent agreement opened a new chapter in the friendly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries is expected to take place in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which hosted meetings and dialogues between the two sides last year, or the Omani capital Muscat, which also hosted rounds of Saudi-Iranian talks.

There is also a possibility of hosting the historic meeting in the Chinese capital Beijing in view of its key role in turning the page on the differences between Tehran and Riyadh, and its brokering of the agreement to restore diplomatic relations that were severed in 2016.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China reached an agreement in Beijing, which stipulates the resumption of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran and the reopening of their embassies and consulates within two months, according to a joint statement, issued after the signing of the Beijing deal.