Pars Today- The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, after 7 years of cutting diplomatic relations, with two years of talks hosted by Iraq and Oman, and meetings of the two countries’ national security officials in Beijing, issued a statement on March 10, 2023 and informed of Tehran-Riyadh agreement to normalize relations.
Iran-Saudi relations have entered a new phase since March 2023 and the two countries started expansion of bilateral ties after 7 years of tension.
The inclination of Tehran and Riyadh to expand their ties is indicated by the bilateral diplomatic trips of the Iranian and Saudi officials and the exchange of views on regional developments and bilateral relations.
Given this, the Indian think-tank “Observer Research Foundation” believes that Tehran-Riyadh ties are among the top notable trends in the region and these ties are too complicated to be a transitional tactic.
Pars Today, quoting from IRNA, reported “Abdul Aziz al-Qashian”, Director of the Middle East department of the think-tank as writing on the issue, “The year 2025 began with numerous challenges for the Middle East. The effects of the Gaza war are felt all over the region and Lebanon has sustained extensive damages due to the military attacks of Israel.”
Syria has entered a new era after Bashar Assad which is volatile and replete with hopes, while Trump’s coming to power for the second time will usher in a wave of international and regional developments.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for the Palestinian nation’s resistance has shown Iran as a threat to the US and the Zionist regime, while the Trump administration admits that the so-called “Maximum Pressure” campaign against Iran has failed to yield what Washington had desired.
Furthermore, the anti-Iran stances of the Zionist regime Premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the American President, Donald Trump, have caused concerns for the Saudi rulers so that Riyadh will have to consider these concerns.
Saudi Arabia does not like to be involved in the severe tensions of Tehran with Washington and Tel Aviv.
This trilateral tension will not only affect the Saudi-Iran ties but also impose a lot of pressure on the relations of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with Iran.
No doubt, the Trump administration’s regional policy in 2025 will differ from that of the year 2017.
As a matter of fact, this time, Trump is looking for alternatives with Iran instead of direct military action; and the PGCC and Iran, too, have to pass this test to show the possibility of an agreement to public opinion.
The Saudi war against Yemen lingers there as an unstable issue, too.
Although the recent developments between Iran and Saudi Arabia may augur hopeful events such as the Riyadh-Sana’a negotiations, there are also signs of a continuation of clashes.
However, the continuation of the Saudi and PGCC member states’ war against Yemen can worsen the situation and imperil regional integrity.
Like the Gaza war, where Iran and the PGCC reached common points, this seems likely for Yemen, too.
Generally speaking, the expansion of Iran-Saudi cooperation, despite the pressures of the US and its allies on Riyadh, will be to the benefit of the country and the regional security considering the developments of West Asia.
RM/BK
