Iranian officials and citizens are optimistic about more bilateral cooperation brought by the restoration of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations as the two countries prepare to reopen embassies.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that the reopening process of the Iranian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia is in its final stage, Iranian official news agency IRNA reported.

Kanaani said the Iranian diplomatic missions' offices in Riyadh and Jeddah are under renovation and currently in the "final stage" of preparation.

Noting that Iran is planning to send a high-level business delegation to visit Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral cooperation on trade, Alireza Peyman-Pak, deputy minister of industry, mine and trade of Iran, said both countries will benefit from cooperation as bilateral relations continues to grow.

Peyman-Pak added that the initial estimates indicate that the bilateral trade between Iran and Saudi Arabia could be increased to $1 billion in a short time.

Noting that Saudi business people are attending the 5th Export Potential Exhibition of Iran, which is scheduled to run from May 7 to 10, Peyman-Pak said the development marks a new chapter in Iran's cooperation with regional countries, adding that all sectors of the Iranian society are full of expectations for the future relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia with bilateral relation in political, economic and other fields gradually expanding.

Ordinary Iranians also have high expectations about resuming diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.

However, the two countries reached a deal in March in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations and re-open their embassies and missions within two months.

On April 6, the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect after foreign ministers of both countries held their first formal meeting in more than seven years.

The China-brokered agreement has sparked a flurry of diplomacy in the Middle East. For example, the warring factions of Yemen had completed several exchanges of prisoners recently – a significant step toward resolving the protracted conflict in the country.

On May 3, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi embarked on a landmark visit to Syria, the first for an Iranian president since the Syrian war broke out in 2011.

In April, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made the first visit to Damascus by a Saudi official since the start of the Syrian war.

And on Sunday, Arab foreign ministers decided o restore Syria's membership in the league after 12 years of suspension in an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League in Cairo.

Osama Danura, a political expert, said Syria's return to the Arab world indicates a good start for constructive economic, social and political relations among the Arab states themselves and with other regional countries.

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Iran, Saudi Arabia head for diplomatic milestone after Beijing deal