Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran has reopened, according to Iranian official media, following a thaw in relations seven years after the mission was closed.
Following a deal mediated by China in March, Shiite-majority Iran and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic ties and reopen their respective embassies.
The two countries suspended ties in 2016 when Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were assaulted during protests against Riyadh’s murder of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.
“The embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially commenced its activities” and has been operating since Sunday, the official news agency IRNA said, quoting an “informed source” at Iran’s foreign ministry.
There has been no formal confirmation of the move from Riyadh.
Iran held a flag-raising ceremony in June to commemorate the reopening of its embassy in Riyadh.
The delay in reopening the Saudi embassy had previously been blamed on the building’s poor state, which had been damaged during the 2016 protests.
According to rumors, Saudi ambassadors will work from a fancy hotel in Tehran until the construction is completed.
Since the March agreement, Saudi Arabia has reestablished ties with Iran’s ally Syria and increased its efforts for peace in Yemen, where it has led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Huthi militants for years.
For years, Iran and Saudi Arabia have funded opposing groups in crisis zones around the Middle East.
In recent months, Iran has been at conflict with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over ownership of a disputed gas field.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait claim “sole ownership” of the field, with Iran warning that if talks fail, it will “pursue its right” to the offshore zone.
