Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday exchanged views on the progress of bilateral ties and the developments of regional issues.

In a phone call, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the growing trend of bilateral relations, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The two ministers called for the expansion and deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the areas of common interest and discussed issues related to the resumption of flights carrying Iranians to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Their talks also touched on recent developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and the Red Sea.

During the phone call, the Iranian minister extended an invitation to his Saudi counterpart to visit Tehran.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reached in China's Beijing a groundbreaking agreement last March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months. Last April, the two countries officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

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.

(Cover: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, meets Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 17, 2023. /CFP )