TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has received a proposal from Saudi Arabia to launch three regular flights between the two countries, Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash said on Sunday.
Lauding the two countries' firm determination to expand bilateral cooperation, the Iranian minister said that on this basis, Iran and Saudi Arabia have decided to establish direct flights, according to an interview published on the website of the ministry.
He said the proposal, by Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), calls for establishing three direct flights per week in addition to the Hajj flights.
Bazrpash said the Iranian authorities would make every effort to launch direct flights between the two sides as soon as possible.
Tehran and Riyadh agreed in Beijing on March 10 to resume diplomatic ties and reopen embassies within two months.
Then, in a meeting in Beijing on April 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement, announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.
On Friday, the two ministers held a phone conversation to follow up on the progress of reopening diplomatic missions. ■
