Saudi Arabia, Iran committed to Beijing Agreement: Statement

Saudi Arabia and Iran said Friday that they are committed to the China-brokered deal to normalize ties.

A tripartite meeting was held in Beijing at the level of deputy foreign ministers to discuss progress on the agreement reached earlier this year. Saudi Arabia and Iran both thanked China for hosting the meeting and for its role in mediating between Riyadh and Tehran.

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The three sides also expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and said that any solution to the conflict must adhere to the will of the Palestinian people.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran after two of its diplomatic posts were attacked in Tehran and Mashhad in 2016.

In the latest agreement, Riyadh and Tehran vowed to activate a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the trade, economy and investment agreement signed in 1998. According to the statement, China’s President Xi Jinping had made an initiative to host and sponsor talks between delegates from Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve disputes via dialogue and diplomacy.

The next tripartite meeting will be held next June in Riyadh, according to the statement on Friday.

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