MOSCOW, Mar 14 Moscow welcomes the resumption of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh, believes that this step will help improve the situation in the Middle East, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
«We welcome, of course, this is a very important step. And we also aspired to this and held contacts with our Iranian, Saudi friends, encouraged their rapprochement of positions. We believe this is a very important positive step in establishing good neighborly relations between the largest regional powers and our important partners,» he said.
«To stabilize the situation in the Gulf region and in the Middle East, it is very important for recovery,» Bogdanov added.
Last Friday it became known that Iran and Saudi Arabia, through the mediation of China, signed an agreement on the resumption of diplomatic relations, and it is planned to open embassies within two months. The joint statement was signed after several days of talks between the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and his Saudi counterpart in Beijing. It is noted that the foreign ministers of the two states intend to meet to discuss the implementation of the agreement.
Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh were cut short in 2016 following an attack on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran by protesters against the kingdom's execution of prominent Shia theologian Nimr al-Nimr, but in recent months the two sides have expressed a desire to resolve the differences. In an interview with The Atlantic, released in September, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that relations with Iran should be built as with a neighboring country. However, in connection with the unrest in Iran, the country's authorities began to accuse Saudi Arabia of their involvement and support.