A representative for
the White House National Security Council said the US acknowledged reports that
Iran and Saudi Arabia had reestablished diplomatic relations on Friday but
forwarded more information to the Saudis.
After years of
hostility, a deal mediated by China saw Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to
normalize diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies within two months.
John Kirby stated, “In
general, we encourage any efforts to help end the war in Yemen and de-escalate
tensions in the Middle East region. Deterrence, diplomacy, and de-escalation
are the main tenets of the strategy President Biden described on his visit to
the area last year.”
Even while the US
supported the agreement, Kirby continued, Washington was "sceptical"
about whether Iran would "meet their duties."
The UAE declared on
Friday that it was pleased with the deal and that it "appreciated"
China's participation in the talks.
Anwar Gargash, a
senior government official and counsellor to the president of the UAE, said,
"We believe in the need for positive communication and interaction amongst
the countries of the region to consolidate the notion of good neighbourliness.
During a phone
discussion with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on
Friday, Qatar's prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Sheikh Mohammed
bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, praised the announcement.
He also hailed the two
nations' commitment to cooperate generally in the areas of business, trade,
investment, technology, science, culture, sports, and youth as well as the
reactivation of their security cooperation pact.
Al-Thani went on to
state that Qatar hoped this move would "help to boost security and
stability in the area" and "meet the expectations of the peoples of
the two nations for the benefit of the entire region."
State news outlets in
both Iraq and Oman reported that both nations welcomed the announcement of the
restart of relations.
According to a
statement released by Oman News Agency, Oman "welcomed the trilateral
statement on resumption of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran," and
Iraq "welcomed turning a new page" between Iran and Saudi Arabia,
according to its national news agency.
The foreign ministries
of Bahrain, Algeria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Sudan all issued comments praising
the accord.
According to a Bahrain
News Agency report, Bahrain expressed its optimism that the accord would
represent a "good step towards resolving disputes and ending all regional
conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic methods.
Also, the people of
Bahrain hoped it would "build international ties on the basis of understanding
and respect, good neighbourliness, and non-interference in other countries'
affairs."