TEHRAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) — Iran and the Maldives announced on Saturday the resumption of diplomatic ties after a seven-year break.
The decision was made “in accordance with the interests and aspirations of both nations,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The announcement came after a meeting on Friday between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Khaleel on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In May 2016, the pro-Saudi Maldives ended diplomatic relations with Iran, following Riyadh’s previous decision to cut ties with Tehran in January of the same year.
The resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and the Maldives is part of a wave of normalization of Iran’s relations with other countries that began in March, when Tehran and Riyadh, brokered by Beijing, reached a landmark agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions met. End