Kuwaiti Newspaper: Saudi Delegation Visits Tehran One Day After Eid al-Adha

A Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Saturday, September 2, citing an 'informed Iranian source', that a diplomatic delegation from Saudi Arabia is set to visit Tehran one day after Eid al-Adha. The Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, quoted the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, stating that the purpose of this delegation's visit is to assess the extent of damages inflicted on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. Earlier in September, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced that diplomatic delegations from both countries would visit their embassies after the Hajj ceremonies. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister, stated in an interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency, ISNA, published on Wednesday, September 1, that visas for the members of both delegations had been issued and that 'final arrangements' need to be made regarding this visit. Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh were severed in January 2016 following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the violent protests against Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. In this context, the Kuwaiti newspaper reported that the foreign ministers of both countries emphasized the need to find a way for direct communication during their last meeting after the severance of relations. Iranian media reported in August that the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia embraced each other and had a brief conversation during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. According to the recent report from the Kuwaiti newspaper, during this brief meeting, the foreign ministers of both countries stressed that diplomatic delegations from Iran and Saudi Arabia would determine the framework for communication. The Kuwaiti newspaper, citing its informed source, stated that 'Iranians are seeking to resolve differences and reopen diplomatic relations. From the Iranian perspective, the presence of the Saudi team in Iran also indicates Saudi Arabia's willingness to open the path for diplomatic relations.' The report also mentioned that the Saudi delegation requested meetings with judges and officials who were following up on the incidents related to the attack on the embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that it could not plan and organize these meetings. The report did not provide further details on whether Saudi Arabia has abandoned this request or if the Iranian Foreign Ministry has ultimately been able to fulfill it. Iran and Saudi Arabia accuse each other of interfering in their internal affairs and in the region, an accusation that is denied by the other side. Conflicts in Syria and Yemen have also been among the most significant reasons for the deterioration of relations between the two countries in recent years. Iran supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Saudi Arabia is one of the main supporters of a group of rebels in that country. In Yemen, the situation is reversed, as the Arab coalition led by Riyadh has conducted airstrikes against the Shia Houthi rebels to restore power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while Iranian officials have supported the Houthi rebels and have repeatedly been accused of 'sending weapons' to them.