After a seven-year break, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic relations

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominated Iran have long struggled for influence in the Persian Gulf region. Relations between Riyadh and Tehran worsened in March 2015, when the military operation of the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi group “Ansar Allah” began in Yemen. The execution in Saudi Arabia of prominent Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr also did not help the relations between the two countries. After the execution, protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Iran, prompting Riyadh to cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in response.

Negotiations between the two countries on the restoration of diplomatic relations lasted for several years. Dialogue between the two regional powers resumed in April 2021 following a peace initiative by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi. Since then, five rounds of talks have been held in Baghdad. According to “Rudaw” TV channel, the bilateral meetings in the Iraqi capital were facilitated by the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, and the Chief of the General Intelligence Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant General Khalid bin Ali al-Humeidan.

The reconciliation between the two countries comes as China expands its political and economic influence in relations with the two Gulf powers. Last December, Chinese leader Xi Jinping went to Riyadh, where he was given a lavish welcome ceremony. Meanwhile, in mid-February, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi went on a three-day state visit to China, which was the first visit of an Iranian president to this country in more than 20 years. Previously, Iran and China have signed a strategic partnership agreement for 25 years. The agreement covers areas such as energy, security, infrastructure and communications.

Meanwhile, the UN welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

UN representative Stefan Dujarić noted in a conversation with journalists that the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on the restoration of diplomatic relations can improve the overall situation in the region, including Yemen and Lebanon.

“I think we definitely see a lot of potential for a China-mediated rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I think it’s no secret that we’ve seen a lot of tension and challenges between these two countries that have affected the region as a whole. I think We have an unstable situation in Yemen, but it is developing in a positive direction,” Dujaric said.

Meanwhile, at a briefing in Washington, White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre also said that after the announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the US position on renewing the Iran nuclear deal had not changed: hasn’t changed. It’s not our focus right now. It’s not on our agenda, it remains. We’ve been pretty consistent on that. And that hasn’t changed.”

Husein Ibish, a researcher at the Institute of Arab and Persian Gulf States in Washington, emphasizes that China’s unique ability to promote relations between Tehran and Riyadh, entering a position previously occupied by European countries and the United States, is not particularly pleasing to Washington.