Saudi Arabia and Syria have agreed to reopen their embassies more than a decade after severing diplomatic ties more than a decade ago, Reuters reported, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter.

Riyadh-Damascus contacts accelerated after the historic agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran (the Islamic Republic is among the main allies of President Bashar al-Assad).

The restoration of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Damascus would be the most significant development yet in Arab states’ efforts to normalize relations with Assad, whom they have marginalized since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011.

The two governments are “preparing to reopen their embassies after Eid al-Fitr” (the Muslim holiday marking the end of the Ramadan fast at the end of April), according to one of the Reuters sources close to Damascus. .

The decision was reportedly finalized after contacts in Saudi Arabia by a top Syrian intelligence official, according to two sources.

The Saudi government’s communications secretariat, the kingdom’s foreign ministry and the Syrian government did not respond to requests for comment by Reuters.

Saudi state television, however, confirmed that talks are underway with Syria’s foreign ministry to resume consular services, citing a foreign ministry official in Riyadh.

The US, an ally of Saudi Arabia, opposes efforts by Arab states to normalize relations with President Assad. The US government and several of its allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have supported anti-regime forces in Syria. But the Assad government has been able to quell the rebellion in most of Syria, thanks in part to support from Iran and Russia.

The United Arab Emirates took the initiative to immediately restore relations with the Syrian government, and recently President Assad visited the country with his wife.

Saudi Arabia moved with greater caution. A Gulf diplomat told Reuters the senior Syrian official “stayed for days” in the Saudi capital before an agreement was reached to reopen the two countries’ embassies “in the near future”.

A few days ago, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, referred to the possibility of Riyadh’s normalization of relations with Damascus, noting that it could lead to the lifting of the blockade of Syria from the Arab League.

The diplomat argued that Riyadh-Damascus contacts might pave the way for a vote on it at the upcoming Arab League meeting, expected to be held in April in Saudi Arabia.