Iran and Saudi Arabia to renew ties after seven-year rift

Middle East determination rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia person agreed to renew diplomatic relations, 7 years aft severing them successful a bitter row.

The unexpected announcement came aft 4 days of talks betwixt elder officials from some sides successful China.

Tensions betwixt the Sunni and Shia-led neighbours person since often been high.

They spot each different arsenic seeking determination dominance and see each different a threat. They are besides aligned with rivals crossed the Middle East, including successful Lebanon, Syria, Iraq - and astir overtly successful Yemen.

Iran has supported Shia Houthi rebels who forced retired the Saudi-backed authorities successful 2014, portion Saudi Arabia has led a devastating aerial run against the Houthis since the pursuing year.

Saudi Arabia has besides accused Iran of helping the Houthis onslaught it.

In the astir superior incidental of its kind, drones and missiles struck large Saudi lipid facilities successful 2019, causing harm and disruption to production. Saudi Arabia and its US state blamed Iran for the onslaught - thing Iran denied.

Previous attempts astatine reconciliation person been unsuccessful, but connected Friday Saudi Arabia and Iran said they would reopen embassies successful each other's countries wrong 2 months. They volition besides re-establish commercialized and information relations.

The announcement was welcomed by different countries successful the region, arsenic good arsenic the US, though Washington said it was sceptical that Iran would "meet their obligations". Israel, which has called for maximum unit connected Iran implicit its atomic programme, has not commented.