Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Iran resumes work after 7 years

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran has resumed operations, state media in Iran reported Wednesday, following a thaw in ties seven years after the mission was closed, Report informs via Al Arabiya.

The Kingdom and the Islamic Republic agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies following a China-brokered deal announced in March.

The long-time regional foes severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during a protest.

“The embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially commenced its activities” and has been operating since Sunday, the official news agency IRNA said, quoting an “informed source” at Iran’s foreign ministry.

There has been no official confirmation from Riyadh on the move.

In June, Iran marked the reopening of its embassy in Riyadh with a flag-raising ceremony.

Iranian media had previously attributed the delay in reopening the Saudi embassy to the poor condition of the building which was damaged during the 2016 protests.

Since the March deal, Saudi Arabia has restored ties with Syria and ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, where it has for years led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis.