The Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada reported that “Baghdad is preparing for an important meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is expected to announce the restoration of relations between the two countries after years of estrangement.”

Riyadh severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia. Iran suspended the talks in March without giving reasons for the decision, which was taken at a time when a new round of talks was due to begin. The move comes after Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in the largest mass execution in decades.

Tehran condemned the executions, in which 41 Shiites were killed, activists say. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, both embroiled in proxy conflicts across the region, launched direct talks last year in a bid to contain tensions. Riyadh and Tehran support rival parties in regional conflicts and political divisions in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.