Iranian president invites Saudi king to visit Tehran

President Raisi Invites King Salman to Visit Iran, Iran has officially invited the leader of Saudi Arabia, King Salman to visit Tehran

The invitation comes after China brokered a deal in March to end decades of animosity between the two regional rivals. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani confirmed the invitation on Monday (17/4/2023). He said King Salman's invitation to Tehran was in return for an invitation to Riyadh by the Saudis.

"The Iranian president (Ebrahim Raisi) has sent an invitation to the Saudi king in return for an invitation from Riyadh for him," Nasser Kanaani said in a televised press conference, as quoted by Middleeasteye. 

Iran's President invites Saudi King to visit Tehran - Iranian Foreign Ministry pic.twitter.com/zuI36YcEdx

— RT (@RT_com) April 17, 2023

After years of animosity that fueled conflict in the Middle East, Iran, and Saudi Arabia agreed to end their diplomatic rift and reopen their diplomatic missions in March. Chinese President Xi Jinping helped broker a surprise deal that left the United States on the sidelines. 

Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran met in Beijing for the first time in seven years. Soon after the two countries issued a joint statement announcing that they two countries would reopen their embassies to one another within two months.

Delegates also agreed to "expand" their bilateral talks to address "important issues". Since then, Iran's Tasnim news agency said the two countries plan to exchange technical teams to discuss establishing each other's embassies within two months. 

As part of the agreement signed last month, the two sides "emphasize respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs" and agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001. 

The deal was widely seen as a diplomatic victory for China in the Gulf, which the US considers its area of ​​influence.