Saudi, Iranian FMs to meet, discuss reopening embassies -Saudi state news

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, agreed in a phone call to meet soon and pave the way for the re-opening of embassies between the two countries, Saudi state news agency SPA reported early on Thursday.

“Today, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a phone call to His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amirabdollahian,” the report read.

“At the beginning of the call, the two sides exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. The two ministers agreed to hold a bilateral meeting soon in order to pave the way for the reopening of embassies and consulates between the two countries.”

Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement

Earlier this month, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

Former prime minister Yair Lapid warned that the detente signals the end of Israel's "defensive wall" against Iran, The Jerusalem Post reported earlier this month.

“[The rapprochement] reflects the complete and dangerous failure of the Israeli government’s foreign policy,” Lapid said.

“This is what happens when one deals with legal insanity all day instead of doing one’s job against Iran and strengthening relations with the United States.”

A senior Israeli official blamed the governments of Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the development.

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.