Saudi Arabia, Iran to discuss resuming flights, granting visas

Thursday, 6 April 2023 09:56

By Reuters

Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to discuss resuming flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations, in addition to facilitating visas for citizens, a joint statement signed by the two countries on Thursday said.

The statement followed a meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran's top envoys in Beijing, the first official meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years.

Footage on Saudi state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV showed Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian shaking hands and sitting side by side.

President Xi Jinping of China helped broker a surprise deal between the two countries last month to restore diplomatic ties.

The statement said they will re-open embassies and consulates within the two-month period stipulated in the agreement facilitated by China in March.

More from International News

Israeli attacks on Gaza killed 60 people in 24 hours

Israeli occupation forces committed multiple massacres against families in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, resulting in the killing of at least 60 Palestinians and the injury of 162 others, according to medical reports.
Trump fires National Security Agency director

U.S. President Donald Trump fired General Timothy Haugh as director of the National Security Agency on Thursday, according to two officials familiar with the decision, and congressional Democrats denounced the removal of the nonpartisan official from a top security post.
Israel steps up Syria strikes, says Turkey aims for 'protectorate'

Israel stepped up airstrikes on Syria, declaring the attacks a warning to the new rulers in Damascus as it accused their ally Turkey of trying to turn the country into a Turkish protectorate.
US sending Israel 20,000 assault rifles that Biden delayed

The Trump administration moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 US-made assault rifles to Israel last month, according to a document seen by Reuters, pushing ahead with a sale that the administration of former president Joe Biden had delayed.