Bahrain Mirror: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Sunday (March 12, 2023) that the agreement with Iran confirms the common desire to resolve differences, noting that he is willing to meet his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian soon. He added that his country is forging ahead in the path of de-escalation.

Bin Farhan told Asharq Al Awsat Saudi newspaper that "the Saudi-Iranian agreement to resume diplomatic ties confirms a common desire to resolve differences through talks and dialogue," indicating that "this agreement does not mean that we have reached a resolution to all outstanding differences between our two countries"

The Saudi Foreign Minister said he was looking forward to meeting his Iranian counterpart soon, based on what was agreed upon. "We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations between our two countries during the next two months, and it is natural in the future to exchange visits," he said.

"The basic rule in international relations is having diplomatic ties with countries, and this rule is further strengthened in case of the two neighboring countries as vast as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with religious, cultural and civilizational commonalties, each of which is of great importance," he noted.

He went on to say "Saudi Arabia is forging ahead in the path of de-escalation it has chosen because of its sense of responsibility in bolstering regional and international security and stability."

On Friday, March 10, 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an agreement to restore diplomatic relations between them, brokered by China, which sponsored talks between them.

The Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and his Saudi and Chinese counterparts Musaed bin Muhammad al-Aiban and Fang Yi signed an agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran and exchange diplomatic missions between them within the next two months.

Arabic Version