Following political talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it seems that the ground has been prepared for resumption of trade between the two neighboring countries, Rouhollah Latifi, a customs expert, wrote for the Persian daily Ta’adol
Latifi, who is also the former spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, noted that a total of 30,791 tons of goods worth $14.71 million were exported from Iran to Saudi Arabia from the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2022) to Nov. 21, which is considered a significant jump after the suspension of political relations between the two sides in recent years.
“Iran’s exports to Saudi Arabia stood at less than $42,000 in the last Iranian year [March 2021-22]. The figure reached $377,309 in the first eight months of the current Iranian year [March 21-Nov. 21, 2022], but in the last 40 days, with exports of 30,015 tons of steel ingots worth $14.2 million and 60 tons of seedless grapes worth $126,000, Iran’s total exports reached $14.71 million,” he added.
Latifi noted that Iran’s exports to Saudi Arabia from March 21 to Dec. 21 stood at $15 million. of which 96.5% were iron and steel ingots.
Other exports during the period include 340 tons of sodium hydroxide worth $185,300, 86 tons of truck body parts worth $155,376, 265 tons of glass beads worth $33,000 and 25 tons of marble worth $3,731.
A new round of talks between the two sides took place in 2022 to improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are ready to follow up Iraq-mediated negotiations on restoring bilateral diplomatic relations, a senior cabinet member said recently.
“The Saudis emphasize that talks must continue and both sides’ concerns must be discussed and resolved for the two countries to resume relations,” Mohammad Hosseini, vice president for parliamentary affairs, said after a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the Brazilian president’s inauguration in Brasilia, ISNA reported.
Tehran and Riyadh severed diplomatic ties in 2016 after a group of Iranians stormed the Saudi embassy in reaction to the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric.
The two sides have also been at odds over several regional issues, including the war in Yemen where the two support opposing sides.
Both sides have showed signs of interest in reconciliation marked by five rounds of negotiations in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the latest of which was held last April.
The talks had been lauded as a breakthrough that would ease regional tensions, but were stalled with the outbreak of protests in Iran in September.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had earlier met his Saudi counterpart on the sidelines of the Baghdad II conference in the Jordanian capital Amman.
He later said in a tweet in Arabic that “the Saudi minister assured me of his country’s readiness to continue dialogue with Iran.”
Prince Faisal has said his country will continue to extend its hand to Iran for a “positive relationship” that serves the stability of the region.
In December, Amir-Abdollahian expressed Tehran’s readiness to reopen embassies whenever the Saudi side is ready.
“It is the Saudi side that should decide how it will pursue a constructive approach toward Iran,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters on the sidelines of the third edition of Tehran Dialogue Forum in December.
Iran has already reopened the country’s representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
