Saudi Arabia, Iran exchange ambassadors as thaw continues

The exchange of ambassadors between Saudi Arabia and Iran is the first since 2016 and follows the resumption of relations between the two countries in March.

Adam Lucente
Adam Lucente
Alireza Bigdeli (R).
Alireza Bigdeli (R), Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Saudi Ali al-Youssef, Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (C) and Charge of consular affairs in the Iranian embassy, Hassan Zarnegar, attend the official ceremony of the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, on June 6, 2023. Iran reopened today its embassy in Saudi Arabia after a seven-year closure — FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador arrived in Iran on Tuesday, marking another milestone in the improved Saudi-Iran relationship.

Ambassador Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi said that Saudi leadership “confirms the importance of strengthening relations and increasing communication and meetings between the kingdom and Iran” upon his arrival to Tehran, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency also reported that Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, arrived in Riyadh earlier on Tuesday. Enayati was named Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia in May. He previously served as Iran's ambassador to Kuwait from 2014 to 2019, and more recently as director-general of the Persian Gulf Department at the Iran's Foreign Ministry. 

Anzi previously served as Saudi ambassador to Oman, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, which described him as a “seasoned diplomat.”

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