Iran Air Resumes Flights to Dammam

Iran Air has resumed flights between Mashhad, Iran, and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, after a nine-year pause, signaling a thaw in relations between the two nations. The move facilitates travel for Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. The flights, scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, follow a March 2023 agreement to restore diplomatic ties, mediated by China, after years of hostility. This resumption comes after a similar re-establishment of Iranian pilgrimages to Mecca in April 2023. Iran Air's CEO emphasized that the initiative aligns with both governments' goals to enhance economic and cultural relations. The flights are expected to bolster religious tourism and foster connections between the two countries.