Saudi to grant new visas to Iran diplomats: Iranian FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says that Saudi Arabia has agreed to grant visas to three Iranian diplomats, in a sign of warming ties.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

23 December, 2021

Amirabdollahian announced that the Iranian diplomats would be permitted to enter Saudi Arabia [Getty]

In a further sign of a thaw in ruptured ties, Saudi Arabia has agreed to grant visas to three Iranian diplomats to be based in the kingdom, the Iranian foreign minister said on Thursday.

The next round of Saudi-Iranian talks will take place soon in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Hossein Amirabdollahian said at a joint news conference in Tehran with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein.

"Last week, Saudi Arabia agreed to grant visas to three of our diplomats who will start work at the Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah,” Amirabdollahian said in comments carried by Iranian media.

There was no immediate comment from the Saudi government.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic ties in 2016, started direct talks this year with four rounds held in Iraq. Baghdad hopes its mediation will stop neighbours settling scores on its territory.

The kingdom has described the talks as cordial but exploratory.

(Reuters)