TEHRAN – Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday that his country expects that a new chapter will be opened in relations between the Saudi Kingdom and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“We expect that a new chapter will be opened in relations between the two countries based on brotherhood, mutual respect, and common interests,” Faisal bin Farhan said in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Riyadh.

Amir Abdollahian visited Saudi Arabia ahead of President Ebrahim Raisi’s trip to the Saudi Kingdom.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has officially invited President Raisi to pay a visit to the kingdom. The invitation followed after Iran and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on March 10 in China to resume diplomatic ties after seven years of frosty ties.

Faisal bin Farhan said, “We hope that Ayatollah Raisi will visit Saudi Arabia soon. King Salman has written an official letter in this regard.”

The chief diplomat also said the kingdom is “determined to develop ties” with Iran and thanked the Islamic Republic for backing the Riyadh Expo 2030.

The senior diplomat also said his talks with Amir Abdollahian focused on bilateral ties in different areas including security in the region.

"The talks were successful," the Saudi foreign minister said.

He also said the ambassadors from the two countries will soon start their diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Tehran and this is in line with the new relationship between the two sides.

The Iranian foreign minister made a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to facilitate and speed up the implementation of agreements inked between countries.

It was the first visit by an Iranian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia since 2015.

Amir Abdollahian is accompanied by Alireza Enayati, Iran’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Enayati is going to start his diplomatic mission in the country after the visit by Amir Abdollahian.

It was the fourth meeting between the chief diplomats within a short time. First, they met in Beijing on April 6; second in Cape Town on June 2; third in Tehran on June 17; and fourth in Riyadh on August 17.

Amir Abdollahian: Iran-Saudi ties 'on the right track'

Amir Abdollahian also said Saudi Arabia and Iran are making progress on mending ties.

"Relations between Tehran and Saudi are on the right track and we are witnessing progress," Amir Abdollahian said at the press conference with his Saudi counterpart.

"We had good discussions over a broad range of issues during our meetings today," Amir Abdollahian said.

Prior to the press conference, Amir Abdollahian and Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks for more than three hours.

In the meeting, Amir Abdollahian said it is “necessary” to activate ties in different areas in accordance with “common interests”.

“We are in Riyadh to lay the groundwork for ‘constructive ties’ between the two countries,” Iran’s foreign minister said.

Amir Abdollahian also proposed establishing joint expert committees which were welcomed by his Saudi counterpart.

Iran’s foreign minister also announced that the Islamic Republic is ready to reactivate the joint economic committee.

Forming a “coordination council” with the chairmanship of the two foreign ministers to explore ways to speed up ties also featured in the talks.

The Iranian chief diplomat also said fight against terrorism is in line with the interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia and countries in the region.

Fighting terrorism can be one of the areas of cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh, Amir Abdollahian remarked.

Amir Abdollahian also pointed to the problem of dust storms in the West Asia region and invited Saudi Arabia to participate in an international conference on the subject that will be held in Tehran on September 9-10.

Holding joint chambers of commerce meetings, reactivating airlines between the two countries, joint investment, scientific and research cooperation, fight against drug trafficking, and exchange of scientific and sports teams were also proposed by Iran’s foreign minister that were cherished by the Saudi side. 

Amir Abdollahian also said Iran is ready to activate all cooperation documents and sign new ones if necessary.

He also said Iran welcomes Saudi tourists to Iran.

“Security and development are inseparable,” Iran FM says

The Iranian foreign minister went on to say that “security and development are inseparable”, and Iran unwaveringly backs dialogue and political paths to settle disputes.

He also pointed to Iran’s position on the Palestinian issues as the main issue of the Islamic world and called the Zionist regime a “permanent threat to regional and international security and the security of Islamic countries.”

For his part, Prince bin Farhan said holding meetings, talks, and making common efforts to develop ties are important and the “two nations should have a feeling that relations are progressing to the benefit of the two countries.”

He also pointed to his country’s invitation to President Raisi to visit Saudi Arabia, saying, “The most important trip that we are waiting for and will help develop relations between the two countries is the visit of His Excellency Mr. Raisi, the president, and all Saudi government ministries are tasked to prepare the ground for a successful visit.”

The Saudi chief diplomat also said his country is ready to strengthen cooperation with Tehran at international organizations.

He also condemned the August 13 terrorist attack in the Shah Cheraq shrine in the southcentral city of Shiraz and said terrorism is a “common danger” that should be countered with.

 “Three-and-half-hours of constructive talks”

In a post on X social media, Amir Abdollahian also said he and Faisal bin Farhan held three-and half-hours of “constructive” talks.

“We talked about the latest situation in developing bilateral ties and cooperation in different areas of mutual interest and also developments in the region, the world, and the Islamic world,” Amir Abdollahian explained.

Amir Abdollahian visits Iranian embassy in Riyadh

On the first day of his visit to the Saudi Kingdom, Amir Abdollahian also paid a visit to the Iranian embassy in Riyadh and was briefed about efforts made by an Iranian team that have been sent to the Saudi capital to pave the ground for reopening the embassy within a two-month period.

It is noteworthy that Iran’s embassy in Saudi Arabia has become active since a time ago and it is conducting diplomatic activities and providing consular services.