Saudi Crown Prince congratulates Iran's new President

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, on Wednesday congratulated Iran’s new President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, on his electoral victory, Anadolu Agency reports.

The two leaders emphasized, during a phone call, the importance of continuing efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation across various fields, the Saudi state news agency, SPA, reported.

Pezeshkian, for his part, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Crown Prince “for his kind feelings”, it added.

In September 2023, diplomatic representation between Saudi Arabia and Iran was restored after an eight-year hiatus. It followed a mutual agreement in March 2023, facilitated by China, to resume diplomatic relations.

The initial rupture occurred after attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, in response to the execution of Shia cleric, Nimr Al-Nimr, by Saudi authorities on charges of terrorism.

Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate and former health minister, won the second round of Iran’s presidential elections on 5 July, securing 53.7 per cent of the votes. His opponent, conservative Saeed Jalili, received 44.4 per cent of the vote, according to official results.

The election was held following the 19 May death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

READ: TIMELINE – Saudi-Iran ties: A history of ups and downs