Normalization of Relations Between Iran, Saudi Arabia: New Era of Diplomacy, Wisdom

(MENAFN) The longstanding enmity between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been among the most persistent and dangerous in the Middle East. However, news of the normalization of relations between the two countries came as a surprise to international observers. The March agreement followed two years of negotiations between Riyadh and Tehran in Baghdad, with Chinese President Xi Jinping playing an important role in concluding the deal in Beijing. As part of the trilateral statement, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to implement a 2001 security cooperation agreement and a 1998 deal bolstering economic, cultural, and technological ties.

This new agreement is based on an agreement the two countries reached in the mid-1990s, which remained in effect until 2005. At that time, Riyadh was concerned about Tehran exporting Shiism and supporting Saudi Arabia's Shia minority. For its part, Tehran was concerned about Saudi Arabia supporting the Sunni minority in Iran and spreading Wahhabi fundamentalism. The bilateral security pact greatly reduced anxieties in both governments over interference in each other's internal affairs.

Unfortunately, the agreements collapsed in August 2005 when Iran restarted its nuclear enrichment program, and the UN Security Council adopted resolutions sanctioning Iran. Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was now the king of Saudi Arabia, repeatedly exhorted the US to "cut off the head of the snake" by launching military strikes to destroy Iran's nuclear program. The situation worsened when in January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, along with 46 other Shia dissidents. Nimr's execution triggered protests in front of Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran.

The proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia escalated in Yemen, with Iran supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against internal and external efforts to overthrow him. However, in recent years, the situation has changed, and the era of diplomacy and wisdom has arrived. The new agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a significant step towards peace and stability in the region. It is hoped that both countries will continue to work towards building trust and cooperation, which will benefit not only them but also the wider region.

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