Following a seven-year hiatus, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran recently decided to re-establish diplomatic relations with the help of China. Both countries have expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Iraq, Oman, and China for their good contributions to the discussions' facilitation, hosting, and sponsorship. The restoration of diplomatic ties is a great development, but key differences between the two states, which are polarised by religion, geopolitics, and geostrategic interests, are unlikely to be overcome.