In this June 6, 2023 photo, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Alireza Bigdeli (second left), Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (C) Saudi Ali al-Youssef, and Charge of Consular Affairs in the Iranian embassy, Hassan Zarnegar (right) attend the official ceremony of the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh. (PHOTO / AFP)

TEHRAN/CAIRO – Saudi Arabia's first ambassador to Iran since the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to start his new mission there, according to the Saudi state news agency.

The agency quoted Ambassador Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi as saying the Saudi leadership stresses the importance of strengthening relations with Iran with more communication and meetings between the two countries.

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The ambassador arrived in Tehran a few hours after the arrival of Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati in Riyadh earlier in the day, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The Saudi envoy used to be his country's ambassador to Oman before taking up his new mission in Iran, according to the report.

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached in China's Beijing a groundbreaking agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months.

On April 6, the two countries officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

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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 Shi’ite cleric.