International, regional nations respond to Saudi-Iran agreement mediated by China
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Sulaiman
- . March 11, 2023
- . Update: March 11, 2023 10:11 pm
A representative for the White House National Security Council said the US acknowledged reports that Iran and Saudi Arabia had reestablished diplomatic relations on Friday but forwarded more information to the Saudis.
After years of hostility, a deal mediated by China saw Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to normalize diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies within two months.
John Kirby stated, “In general, we encourage any efforts to help end the war in Yemen and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region. Deterrence, diplomacy, and de-escalation are the main tenets of the strategy President Biden described on his visit to the area last year.”
Even while the US supported the agreement, Kirby continued, Washington was “sceptical” about whether Iran would “meet their duties.”
The UAE declared on Friday that it was pleased with the deal and that it “appreciated” China’s participation in the talks.
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Anwar Gargash, a senior government official and counsellor to the president of the UAE, said, “We believe in the need for positive communication and interaction amongst the countries of the region to consolidate the notion of good neighbourliness.
During a phone discussion with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday, Qatar’s prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, praised the announcement.
He also hailed the two nations’ commitment to cooperate generally in the areas of business, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports, and youth as well as the reactivation of their security cooperation pact.
Al-Thani went on to state that Qatar hoped this move would “help to boost security and stability in the area” and “meet the expectations of the peoples of the two nations for the benefit of the entire region.”
State news outlets in both Iraq and Oman reported that both nations welcomed the announcement of the restart of relations.
According to a statement released by Oman News Agency, Oman “welcomed the trilateral statement on resumption of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran,” and Iraq “welcomed turning a new page” between Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to its national news agency.
The foreign ministries of Bahrain, Algeria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Sudan all issued comments praising the accord.
According to a Bahrain News Agency report, Bahrain expressed its optimism that the accord would represent a “good step towards resolving disputes and ending all regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic methods.
Also, the people of Bahrain hoped it would “build international ties on the basis of understanding and respect, good neighbourliness, and non-interference in other countries’ affairs.”
