News - Middle East: Former Saudi intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal has expressed optimism that the agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to restore diplomatic ties and re-open diplomatic missions will be a “game-changer” for the West Asia region.

Faisal made the comment in an interview with France 24 on Tuesday as he elaborated on the restoration of long-severed ties between Tehran and Riyadh as part of a Chinese-brokered deal on March 10 as well as the two sides’ decision to open a new chapter in their relations.

Faisal said the "rapprochement" between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which took place after trilateral talks in Beijing, would affect the developments in major countries in the West Asia region, such as Yemen and Syria.

"China was the one that could pull it off because it has good relations with both of us," Faisal told France 24 in the interview. “Neither the United States nor Europe would have been able to be an honest broker between two parties.”

Asked by the French state-owned international news television network whether the Iran-Saudi deal will be a game-changer in the region, Faisal responded, “hopefully,” and stressed that the agreement “will have an effect” on developments in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, Iran and Saudi Arabia finally clinched a deal on Friday to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions within two months.

According to a joint statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia highlighted the need to respect each others’ national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and China expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security, it emphasized.