Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian began a visit to Riyadh on Thursday, the first since the restoration of relations between the two countries following a Chinese-sponsored agreement.

Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations, following an agreement concluded by the two countries, mediated by China, last March, followed by a number of high-level bilateral talks.

The Iranian news agency "IRNA" said that Amir Abdollahian "arrived at Riyadh airport on Thursday afternoon, for a day-long visit, and was received by the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister."

Abdullahian is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, which will be the fourth meeting between them after the return of bilateral relations.

The meeting of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran...a step on the path to “full normalization”

The Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ali Reza Enayati, is also expected to begin his work today in Riyadh, based on this visit, which will complete the process of normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A week ago, the Iranian IRNA news agency reported that the Saudi embassy in Iran had officially begun its activity, and it quoted an informed source that the embassy had actually begun its activity.

IRNA reported that the Iranian Embassy and Consulate General in Riyadh officially began their activities last June.

In the same month, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdullahian, held a press conference, bringing them together in the Iranian capital, Tehran, after discussions described as “positive.”

Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed that the talks with Iran were characterized by frankness and clarity, and indicated that work is underway to open the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and stated that “Iran has provided facilities for the return of diplomatic missions to work.”

The Saudi minister added from Tehran that the discussions focus on “the importance of security cooperation between the two countries to ensure that the region is free of weapons of mass destruction”