The governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia, Islamist rivals that recently agreed to restore diplomatic ties under the auspices of China, will meet on Monday with foreign ministers during Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims. announced.
Ramadan starts on Wednesday and is expected to last until around April 20th. The exact date of the holiday depends on when religious scholars observe the night sky. look A new crescent that marks the beginning of a new month in the Islamic calendar.
Iran, the world’s largest Shiite Muslim country, and Saudi Arabia, whose Sunni royal family is the custodian of Muslim holy sites, have maintained a bitter rivalry for years, most notably Yemen. continue to support one side of the civil war. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties, a Shia mob closed its embassy in Tehran in 2016, and the Iranian government did little to respond to the attacks.
Earlier this month, Tehran and Riyadh announced that after extended talks in Beijing, the two countries would agree to return their ambassadors to the capital and focus on rebuilding bilateral ties. Both sides’ ally, the Chinese Communist Party, touted the move as a defeat for the United States after left-leaning President Joe Biden’s obnoxious visit to Saudi Arabia last summer.
Beijing’s surprise announcement followed reports of both Iran and Saudi Arabia’s interest in joining the BRICS coalition, followed by talks between Chinese dictator Xi Jinping and the leaders of both countries.Now Brazil , Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS is primarily a commercial organization and its members provide high-profile diplomatic assistance on the world stage. Russia and China in particular are adamant about expanding her BRICS to limit the impact of the US dollar.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the government news agency, said on Monday that the Saudi government had reached an agreement with Iran. schedule A meeting between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahien “during the ongoing month of Ramadan.”
“Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to respect their national sovereignty and not to interfere in their internal affairs,” the SPA said in a report, according to a Saudi outlet. Al Arabiya.
In a formal statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “a conference call was agreed between top diplomats that also addressed some common issues in light of the tripartite agreement signed in the People’s Republic of China. However, no further details were provided regarding these matters.
🇸📞🇷| Foreign Minister Prince @Faisalbin Farhan receive a call from #IranMinister of Foreign Affairs of @Amirabdolahian. pic.twitter.com/JzZayvV4un
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸 (@KSAmofaEN) March 27, 2023
Two Recent Foreign Ministers talked We agreed to a meeting “immediately” before last Monday, which marked the beginning of Ramadan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian Said On Monday, efforts to restore ties with Saudi Arabia were part of a larger move to “get Iran’s international relations back on the right track” by the US and Western powers to expel the world’s biggest state sponsor. Ruin years of diplomatic activity…of terrorism. Backed by rogue states China and Russia, Iran has sought to increase its regional and international influence.
“Recently, I have exchanged views with the foreign ministers of Austria, Australia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, UAE, Switzerland, Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Syria,” said Amir Abdulahian. Confirmed on monday. “The administration’s balanced foreign policy and dynamic diplomacy are on the right track.”
A meeting between top diplomats may also pave the way for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Saudi Arabia. The Iranian government claimed that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman had invited Raisi to Riyadh in the near future shortly after the successful talks in Beijing were announced, but the latest statements from both sides do not directly communicate with the major plans. between diplomats on both sides. Raisi said he personally visited Beijing in February just before Riyadh and Tehran began restoring ties. Late last year, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia.
The restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia comes against the backdrop of a widening rift between Iran and Washington. The Biden administration has suggested it may not act to prevent Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons program from succeeding. In Congress on Thursday, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said: Said “The United States remains committed to Iran’s policy of not deploying nuclear weapons,” he said. Milley’s use of the word “field” suggests that the adjective’s inclusion suggests that the United States is content with Iran’s possession of “field” nuclear bombs under the current administration. It surprised many national security observers who interpreted the Neither the White House nor the Pentagon have clarified Millie’s remarks at press time.
The Biden administration welcomed China’s intervention in the Iran-Saudi conflict when it was first announced in mid-March.
“There are no sour grapes here,” White House official John Kirby said last week.[I]If this has the effect we are hoping for, then that is good. The President is very supportive of our leadership in the Middle East region, our partnerships and relationships there, and all the efforts we are making. I’m happy. We’re doing it to hold Iran accountable.”
