Iran reopens consulate in Jeddah as relations thaw with Saudi Arabia

Iran reopened its consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Thursday as the two countries continued mending fences and resuming ties following seven years of diplomatic void.

“The diplomatic mission was reopened in a ceremony attended by a number of Iranian and Saudi officials,” the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

On Tuesday, Iran also reopened its embassy in Riyadh and its permanent representative office to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Bekdli cut the red ribbon of the embassy in Riyadh. 

"Today is an important day in the history of relations between the two countries, and we are very happy to be in the brotherly and friendly kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Bekdli said.

"With the hoisting of Saudi Arabia and Iran flags in the two countries, bilateral cooperation will reach its peak. We are witnessing a new page in bilateral and regional relations towards more cooperation and rapprochement," he added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been two rivals, but ties thawed in March following the announcement of a China-sponsored agreement to resume diplomatic ties.

In March, Iran appointed Alireza Enayati, a senior diplomat, as its new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accelerated efforts since January to normalise ties with countries in the Middle East, including Egypt and Bahrain, as part of a “neighborhood-centric" foreign policy.

Saudi Arabia has also sought to lower tensions with Iran to focus on domestic affairs and the diversification of the country's economy.