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Why is everybody going to China?

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers to meet in Beijing tomorrow


Tomorrow, Foreign Ministers of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud will meet in Beijing. This is reported by a number of media outlets, citing sources in the diplomatic circles of both countries.
The main topic of communication between the heads of the diplomatic departments of the Islamic Republic and the Kingdom will be the normalization of relations between the two states. China has managed to do the almost impossible - to reconcile two key regional adversaries, despite the efforts of the United States and Israel to inflame the Iranian-Saudi contradictions. The foreign ministers of the two states will discuss the process of restoring diplomatic relations and resuming the work of embassies.

A week earlier, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia spoke by phone. They also discussed the normalization of relations between states. Tehran and Riyadh announced the restoration of diplomatic relations interrupted seven years ago a month earlier. The talks between the two states were organized by China.

Two days earlier, Tehran Times reported that President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ibrahim Raisi had accepted an invitation from King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia to pay an official visit to the kingdom. But it is not yet known exactly when this trip will take place. The very fact of the visit of the President of Iran to Riyadh, if it takes place, will testify to Beijing's colossal diplomatic success in reconciling the warring states.

The ongoing negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia under Chinese auspices testify to a significant strengthening of Beijing's position in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, demonstrating its readiness for more active cooperation with China and even for the restoration of normal relations with Iran, shows weariness with the American paradigm of Middle East policy.