Iranian Foreign Minister Arrives in Saudi Arabia

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has arrived in Riyadh today, Thursday, for his first official visit to Saudi Arabia since the resumption of relations between the two regional powers in March, according to official media reports. The Iranian state television "IRIB" stated that the one-day visit "will focus on bilateral relations and regional and international issues." The television reported early Thursday that Amir-Abdollahian "will leave Tehran heading to Riyadh within a few hours." The Kingdom cut its relations with the Islamic Republic in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked its embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad in protest against the execution of the prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Riyadh. However, the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies after a sudden agreement reached through Chinese mediation in March. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Iranian officials in Tehran in June during his first visit there after the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic in March.