Iran FM touts Islamic unity in Riyadh
Standing next to Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Amir-Abdollahian described the conflict as "the most important issue in the Islamic world", adding: "We continue to support Palestine.
(TIMES OF ISRAEL, AFP) – Iran’s top diplomat preached unity and dialogue during a visit to Saudi Arabia last Thursday, his first since the two Middle East rivals announced a surprise rapprochement in March.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also took the opportunity to reiterate the Islamic Republic’s support for the Palestinian cause at a time when Riyadh is in discussions with the United States about potentially normalising ties with Israel.
Such a deal would see Saudi Arabia recognise Israel in exchange for conditions including security guarantees from the United States and concessions from Israel on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Standing next to Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Amir-Abdollahian described the conflict as “the most important issue in the Islamic world”, adding: “We continue to support Palestine.
“There is no doubt that the Zionist regime will continue its efforts to create division in the Muslim world and the region. We follow the movements of the Zionist regime with insight and vigilance,” he added.
Ties between Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran “are progressing in the right direction”, Amir-Abdollahian told reporters at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal, touting economic and security cooperation without announcing any new agreements.
Thursday’s meeting in the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s Islamic Solidarity Hall “will be a prelude to the meeting of the heads of the two countries”, he added, without specifying when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Saudi Arabia at King Salman’s invitation.
“We are sure that these meetings and cooperation will help the unity of the Islamic world.”
The foreign ministers did not take questions.
The two countries severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
But in March, a China-brokered deal saw the long-time rivals agree to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies.
In June, Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh with a flag-raising ceremony.
Its new ambassador, Alireza Enayati, travelled with Amir-Abdollahian to Riyadh on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Iran said the Saudi embassy in Tehran had begun operations, but Riyadh has yet to confirm this or announce an ambassador of its own.
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