With China’s mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to resume diplomatic ties

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on Friday to restore diplomatic ties, brokered by China, ending a seven-year estrangement and shaking the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

Prior to this, Iraq and other countries had tried unsuccessfully to mend relations between the two countries. The deal marks a diplomatic victory for China in a region that has long been dominated by the United States in geopolitics.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia are major oil suppliers to China and have been seeking closer economic ties with Beijing. But the agreement is the first time Beijing has assumed such a significant role in the region’s hostile relations.