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Diplomatic Breakthrough in West Asia
Mediation in the Saudi–Iran deal hands China a distinct advantage in the West Asian region.
Atul Bhardwaj writes:
Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two arch-rivals of West Asia, have signed a landmark agreement to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after relations were severed in 2016 when Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the Saudi beheading of a Shia spiritual leader Nimr al-Nimr. Previously, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran after the attacks on its embassy in 1988. The relations were restored in 1991 but tensions continued to persist.