Iranian Embassy to reopen in Saudi Arabia on June 6

Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia on June 6 following a seven-year closure, Tehran and a diplomatic source said, sealing a Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal announced in March.

Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia on June 6 following a seven-year closure, Tehran and a diplomatic source said, sealing a Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal announced in March.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after its Embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

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Iran's diplomatic mission, which was expelled by Saudi authorities, will return under the leadership of Alireza Enayati, who previously served as Iran's Ambassador to Kuwait.

Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani announced the reopening in a statement on June 5, confirming earlier comments by a diplomatic source in Riyadh.

Iran's Embassy in Riyadh, its consulate in Jeddah and its representative office to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) "will be officially reopened on June 6 and June 7", Mr. Kanani said.

The diplomatic source had earlier told AFP that the opening "will take place Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. local time (2030 IMT) with the presence of the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador" to Saudi Arabia.