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Syria: Iran-Saudi agreement to contribute to regional security, stability

Saturday, 11 March 2023 3:09 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 12 March 2023 12:03 PM ]

File photo shows the entrance to the Syrian foreign ministry's building in the Arab country's capital Damascus.

Syria welcomes an agreement that was reached earlier between Iran and Saudi Arabia toward the restoration of their diplomatic relations.

The Syrian foreign ministry announced Damascus's appreciation of the agreement in a statement on Friday, hours after Tehran and Riyadh reached the understanding under Chinese mediation in Beijing.

Iran, Saudi Arabia agree to resume relations, re-open embassies

Iran and Saudi Arabia agree in the Chinese capital of Beijing to restore their diplomatic relations seven years after they were severed over several issues.

"The Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the agreement reached between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, and highly appreciates the sincere efforts made by the Chinese leadership in this field," the statement read.

"This important step will lead to the strengthening of security and stability in the region and to cooperation that will reflect positively on the common interests of the peoples of the two countries in particular, and the peoples of the region in general," it added.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, enraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi government, stormed its embassy in Tehran.

The statement by the Syrian foreign ministry went on by saying that Damascus hoped for the continuation of such reconciliatory efforts to include relations among "Arab countries and our friends" as means of tackling the major challenges that were faced collectively by these countries.

World welcomes Iran-Saudi detente as Israel feels ‘fatal blow’

After seven years, Iran and Saudi Arabia clinched a deal to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies.

Several regional and extra-regional countries likewise welcomed Iran and Saudi Arabia's step towards rapprochement, with China hailing it a "victory for dialog" and the United States calling it a move towards "de-escalation" in the Middle East region.

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