Middle East regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to renew diplomatic relations, seven years after severing them in a bitter row.
The unexpected announcement came after four days of talks between senior officials from both sides in China.
Saudi Arabia cut ties in January 2016 after demonstrators stormed its embassy in Tehran following Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
Tensions between the Sunni and Shia-led neighbours have since often been high.
They see each other as seeking regional dominance and consider each other a threat. They are also aligned with rivals across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq - and most overtly in Yemen.
Iran has supported Shia Houthi rebels who forced out the Saudi-backed government in 2014, while Saudi Arabia has led a devastating air campaign against the Houthis since the following year.
Saudi Arabia has also accused Iran of helping the Houthis attack it.
In the most serious incident of its kind, drones and missiles struck major Saudi oil facilities in 2019, causing damage and disruption to production. Saudi Arabia and its US ally blamed Iran for the attack - something Iran denied.
Previous attempts at reconciliation have been unsuccessful, but on Friday Saudi Arabia and Iran said they would reopen embassies in each other's countries within two months. They will also re-establish trade and security relations.
The announcement was welcomed by other countries in the region, as well as the US, though Washington said it was sceptical that Iran would "meet their obligations". Israel, which has called for maximum pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, has not commented.
Latest Stories
-
Baby abandoned in manhole in Tema Community 1
1 min -
We’ll establish fiscal council to rein in excessive borrowing – Finance Minister
7 mins -
Mortuary workers issue fresh strike threat
11 mins -
‘Lapses in banking system are not unique’ – John Awuah on managing fraud in Ghana’s Banks
19 mins -
Bawumia confident of victory in 2024 election
53 mins -
Strengthening audit institutions essential for tackling fiscal mismanagement – Domelevo
1 hour -
Healthy Aging: The Role of the Gut Microbiome and How Diet Can Help
1 hour -
Seek medical care, diagnosis for breast cancer – Dr Abiti to women
1 hour -
Hardship: Men now collect marriage list from different families to get cheapest – Report
1 hour -
‘If you’re looking for trouble, you’ll get it,’ Falz tells VeryDarkMan
1 hour -
Paramount Chief of Avenor grateful to NPP, calls for completion of Agenda 111 project
2 hours -
Bawumia commissions ultramodern office complex for Ho Municipal Assembly
2 hours -
Bawumia declares NPP’s infrastructure record unmatched
2 hours -
Importers face duty on Electric Vehicles despite gov’t’s exemption promises
2 hours -
4 additional Democracy Hub protesters discharged
2 hours