In a significant diplomatic development, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is set to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future, responding to an invitation from his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. This visit marks the first official visit by an Iranian foreign minister to the Arab nation in over seven years.

Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the announcement during a weekly press conference in Tehran. While Kanaani did not provide an exact date for the visit, it is anticipated to occur soon, underlining the steady progress in relations between the two nations.

The discussions during Amirabdollahian's visit are expected to encompass a range of subjects, including the augmentation of bilateral cooperation in the economic sector, according to Kanaani. He emphasized that the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia is moving forward incrementally and positively.

Additionally, Kanaani referred to an official invitation extended by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi for a visit to Riyadh. However, no specific date for this visit has been confirmed yet.

Last week, Iran's state news agency, IRNA, reported that Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran has resumed its operations, signifying a step towards normalizing diplomatic ties. This followed the reopening of Iran's embassy in Riyadh and the establishment of the consulate and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation mission in Jeddah in early June.

The diplomatic thaw between the two nations gained momentum after a visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Tehran in June. During this visit, both Prince Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Amirabdollahian agreed to the creation of joint political and economic committees aimed at advancing common interests.

The history of Iran-Saudi relations has been marked by tensions, including the severing of diplomatic ties in January 2016 following the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad in response to the execution of a Saudi Shia cleric.

Negotiations for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations commenced in April 2021, with mediation efforts led by Iraq and Oman. The breakthrough, however, was ultimately facilitated by China, bringing the two nations back to the table for discussions.

As Iran's Foreign Minister prepares for his historic visit to Saudi Arabia, the international community watches closely, hoping for sustained progress in diplomatic relations between these pivotal regional players.