Iranian minister acknowledges resumption of trade ties between Tehran, Riyadh

The news comes less than a month after Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers met in Beijing to discuss reopening diplomatic missions in both countries.

In a China-mediated deal earlier on March 10, top security officials from both countries agreed to restore relations after some years of diplomatic hiatus.

Exports of Iranian commodities to Saudi Arabia are on the agenda, Fatemi Amin said.

“With the beginning of trade between Iran and Saudi Arabia, our colleagues at the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade have commenced the process of exports,” the minister said.

Iran and Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 after angry protesters stormed into Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

The normalization of ties between the two neighboring countries is expected to leave major impacts on regional developments.

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