Regional diplomacy between Iran and Saudi Arabia and its impact on the Gaza war
Mehr News Agency, International Group: Interactions at the regional level are one of the most important issues that are discussed among the main powers in West Asia. After more than a year has passed since the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza and its expansion to southern Lebanon, an important point at the level of regional analysis is that despite the competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia, there is a certain level of interaction between these two regional powers in an effort to manage A crisis has formed.
The importance of Iran-Saudi relations despite different goals in Gaza
Although the agreement to reestablish relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia was signed in March 2023 after 7 years, it is clear that Iran and Saudi Arabia are the two main players in The West Asian region pursues different interests and goals in its foreign policy. Proximity between Riyadh and Tehran is vital. At the same time, the Gaza war, which started on October 7, 2023, clearly shows the complexity and centrality of Iran-Saudi relations in West Asia.
While Iran supports the resistance option and Palestinian resistance movements including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Saudi Arabia does not support the resistance. At best, Riyadh seeks political gains in Palestine in exchange for normalization. While the political authorities in Iran talk about the destruction of the Zionist regime, the decision-making circles in Riyadh support Tel Aviv as part of the process of regional security and the economic system of West Asia.
Nevertheless, it must be said that governments always carefully choose between cooperation and conflict. Considering the different goals of Iran and Saudi Arabia, it seems that the signs of competition, conflict, confrontation and cooperation between these two regional powers should be considered together.
Strengthening the regional diplomacy of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Gaza war
Strengthening regional diplomacy in the Gaza war is one of the most important priorities of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Some experts believe that in a situation where the diplomacy of big powers is not effective in solving regional crises, the strengthening of regional diplomacy offers a perspective to establish stability in the region. For this reason, in the last two years, Riyadh and Tehran have tried to change their regional policy from a strategy of deterrence to a strategy of cooperation. The Gaza war has provided an opportunity for Iran and Saudi Arabia to put regional security plans in line with the political realities regarding Palestine, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, etc.
Arabia and Iran have tried to question the narrative that emphasizes the legality of Tel Aviv’s aggression against Palestine and Lebanon. In the framework of the joint committee of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic States, the Saudi Foreign Minister visited different capitals, including Beijing and Moscow, and discussed with the world leaders about the immediate ceasefire. Riyadh officials also announced that they will not accept any discussion about normalization with Tel Aviv before the ceasefire in Gaza is clarified. The Saudi Foreign Minister announced in November 2023: “When Gaza is being destroyed, what future is there to talk about.”
Iran also in many meetings of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, BRICS and Shanghai, diplomacy is in the service of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza and Reducing the sufferings of the Palestinian people. In a situation where Tel Aviv officials tried to take advantage of the war in Gaza to stabilize their position and expand their sphere of influence, Iran followed the process of interaction with Arab countries to neutralize this plan. . In the framework of the Organization of Islamic Countries, Iran’s Foreign Minister prioritized consultations with the authorities of Islamic countries to achieve a ceasefire by visiting Saudi Arabia. The late former president of Iran, Ebrahim Raeesi, at the invitation of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, participated in the emergency meeting of the leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation after the start of the Gaza war, which was the first high-level bilateral meeting between the two countries after a decade.
Upgrading the path of diplomacy after Sadiq’s promise 1
The acceleration in the regional diplomacy of Iran and Saudi Arabia continued during the term of President Masoud Al-Mezjian, focusing on the Gaza war. Doctors during their trip to Qatar in October 2024 to participate in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Forum meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister and
Especially after Operation Sadiq Promise 1, the Persian Gulf countries centered on Saudi Arabia doubled their interaction with Tehran. In fact, the two sides have understood the need for bilateral interactions to prevent the Gaza conflict from expanding into a regional war. Arab countries in particular have come to the conclusion that their development plans cannot be realized in a region that is involved in permanent conflict.
Oman’s foreign minister clearly stated at the Asian Dialogues meeting: Only by ending the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel (regime) can we hope for peace. returned to the region. “Anyone who believes we can achieve peace through other means is either delusional or deliberately avoiding the truth.” The foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf countries assured Tehran about neutrality in the conflicts in an informal joint meeting with Iran’s foreign minister.
Result
Political cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia has crystallized in various meetings, including in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, despite different goals in the issue of Palestine and the Gaza war. Understanding the efforts of the Zionist regime to spread the war to other regions of West Asia, the two countries consider the danger of spreading the war as a cause of increasing instability in the entire region.
Sajad Moradi Kalardeh; Researcher of international relations
