Iran finance minister meets with Saudi counterpart in Jeddah
Iran's finance minister meets with his Saudi counterpart in the kingdom's port city of Jeddah in the first such development to follow the conclusion of a détente between the countries under China's auspices.
The meeting took place on Friday between Ehsan Khandouzi and Mohammed Aljadaan on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s Annual Meetings.
"The two ministers, who met for the first time in years, discussed opportunities to develop and strengthen relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran," the Saudi Gazette English-language daily reported.
Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after angry protesters stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran. The Iran protests were caused by Riyadh's execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.
Starting in 2021, however, the two sides held five rounds of negotiations in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Back in March this year, they clinched a détente deal after several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China. The agreement obliged the two to restore their diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within two months.
Several Iranian and Saudi officials have hailed the rapprochement as a source of benefit for not only the two countries but also the entire region.
Speaking on the sidelines of the multinational event in Jeddah, Khandouzi likewise praised the reconciliation, describing the expansion of Tehran and Riyadh's economic relations as a "win-win" development, which stands to benefit the countries of the region.
"The agreement, which has taken place through friendly countries' mediation, between Iran and Saudi Arabia will increase trade and investment opportunities between the countries," he added.
Back in January, the Saudi minister announced that the kingdom would consider engaging in international trade in currencies other than the US dollar.
"There are no issues with discussing how we settle our trade arrangements, whether it is in the US dollar, whether it is the euro, whether it is the Saudi riyal,” AlJadaan said at the time.
The Islamic Republic has similarly been advocating the use of local currencies in bilateral economic transactions with friendly countries.
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