Saudi Arabia Engages in Consular Service Discussions with Syria Following Iran’s Lead

Saudi Arabia and Syria are reportedly in talks to resume consular services, according to state-affiliated channel Al-Ekhbariya. This comes more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The report did not give a timeline for the move, which would mark the latest Saudi step towards mending rifts with regional rivals. Earlier this month, a Chinese-brokered deal was announced to restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, seven years after they had been severed. Riyadh has been hinting at a rapprochement with Syria for weeks.