Iran: Saudi Consulate in Mashhad Begins Operations 'in a Hotel'

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported, citing officials from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that the 'official' activities of the Saudi consulate in Mashhad have commenced. The Saudi consulate in Mashhad and its embassy in Tehran were closed following attacks by Islamic Republic agents in the 1990s. Mohammad Beheshti Monfared, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representation in Khorasan Razavi province, stated on Sunday that the Saudi consulate in Mashhad has officially begun its operations in one of the city's hotels. The IRNA report did not mention the name of the hotel, stating that its activities are from 8 AM to 3 PM every day except Thursdays and Fridays. However, ISNA reported that the Saudi flag was raised over the Misagh-e Melli Hotel in Mashhad. This news agency added that the Saudi consul has not yet attended this delegation. Following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the subsequent attack by supporters of Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad in the winter of 2015, Saudi Arabia closed its diplomatic missions in Iran. Recently, following mediation by China, Tehran and Riyadh agreed to improve relations and reopen their diplomatic offices. Mohammad Beheshti Monfared told IRNA that the Saudi consulate in Mashhad officially announced its operations from August 12 of this year, in one of the city's hotels as a 'temporary location.' Iran and Saudi Arabia's relations were revived in April of this year, with the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Riyadh also reopening on April 12. The news of the reopening of this Saudi consulate comes amid rising tensions in the region over threats from the Islamic Republic against commercial ships and oil tankers passing through the Persian Gulf, as well as disputes between Iran and Kuwait over the Arash gas field. Additionally, the United States is attempting to establish full diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Reports indicate that part of the normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia will include U.S. guarantees for the security of Riyadh, which feels threatened by the Islamic Republic. Also see: Jason Brodsky to VOA: The Islamic Republic has historically proven to be an enemy of Saudi Arabia. Early challenges to the Iran-Saudi agreement; rhetoric over the Arash gas field is intensifying. Ali Akbar Salehi called for 'comprehensive' negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the United States.