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Iranian-Saudi agreements correspond to Russia’s Security Concept - senior lawmaker

Leonid Slutsky pointed out that Russia plans a number of steps in development of these agreements

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. The agreements, achieved by Saudi Arabia and Iran with mediation of the Chinese side, correspond to the spirit of Russia’s Collective Security Concept for the Persian Gulf Region and will contribute to the settlement in the region, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky said Saturday.

"[The sides] achieved the most important agreement to restore diplomatic relations, which I consider to be a fundamental step towards normalization of the bilateral Saudi-Iranian interaction. This corresponds to the spirit of Russia’s Collective Security Concept for the Persian Gulf Region and it will contribute to settlement of regional conflicts," the lawmaker said.

Slutsky pointed out that Russia plans a number of steps in development of these agreements, including economic ones.

"In this regard, I view the International North-South Transport Corridor project, which will become the key factor for positive feedback for security, stability and development in this most important region, as a strategic one," the senior lawmaker said.

"The launch of the Corridor will become a milestone event not only in logistics, but also in politics and in security architecture of the Greater Eurasia, it will become the most important economic superstructure atop the strategic basis, achieved in Beijing," Slutsky concluded.

On relations of Iran and Saudi Arabia

On Friday, the Tasnim news agency reported that Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and plan to open their embassies within two months.

Between March 6 and 10, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani and Minister of State, National Security Advisor of Saudi Arabia Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban held talks in Beijing, which resulted in a trilateral statement. The statement points out that Tehran and Riyadh adhere to principles of sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and plan to restore cooperation in trade, economy, culture, science and technology.

The relations between the two states escalated in March 2015, after the Saudi-led coalition commenced a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen. In January 2016, the kingdom cut ties with Iran after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the Consulate in Mashhad were attacked by protesters, outraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Riyadh.

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