Is Saudi Arabia trying to ally with America's 'enemy'? Israel's problems may increase
With the return of Donald Trump to power in the US, the equations in the Middle East have changed a lot. The closeness between Saudi Arabia and Iran can increase the tension between the US and Israel. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important and strong allies of the US in this region and is also considered the voice of Muslim countries around the world.
In such a situation, the closeness between Saudi Arabia and Iran can be harmful for American interests in this region. The Arab-Islamic Summit was held in Riyadh on Monday. Although this summit was called to discuss the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman surprised everyone by naming Iran.
Saudi Arabia in support of Iran!
During the Arab-Islamic Summit, the Crown Prince asked Israel to respect Iran's sovereignty and not attack it. He also thanked Iran for its proposal to organize this summit. He called the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon a genocide. This is the first time that the Saudi Crown Prince has taken Iran's side in the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran. This friendship between Saudi and Iran, which is seen in a different style, has not happened suddenly. To understand what is cooking between these two countries, who were once hostile to each other, one has to look at some of the events that happened in the past.
Pezeshkian's call before the summit
The deputy president participated on behalf of Iran in the Arab-Islamic summit. But before the summit, President Masoud Pezeshkian called the Saudi Crown Prince. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Pezeshkian praised the Kingdom's decision to host the summit. He told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that he would not be able to attend the summit in person but he is sending Iran's first deputy president as his representative.
Saudi Chief of Staff visits Tehran
Saudi Arabia's Chief of Staff made an unexpected visit to Tehran on Sunday. During this, he met several officials including his counterpart Major General Mohammad Bagheri. In the meeting between Saudi Army Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili and Bagheri, opportunities for developing relations between the two countries in the defense and military sector were discussed. According to the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry, cooperation between the two to promote peace and stability in the region was also discussed.
According to the news agency Fars, Iranian Army Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has invited the Saudi Navy to join the Iranian Navy exercises to be held next year. He said, 'We want the Saudi Arabian Navy to join Iran's naval exercises to be held next year, either as a participant or as an observer.'
A new chapter in Saudi-Iran relations?
Iran affairs expert Tauhid Asadi says that the meeting between the Saudi and Iranian army chiefs can be considered as a step forward in the relations between the two countries. He said that both the countries are engaged in establishing mutual trust so that the collective threat emerging in the region can be fought together.
Asadi said, 'This visit took place at a time when Donald Trump has won the elections in America and he has promised peace in the Middle East. However, the possibility of escalation of tensions still exists, so Iran and Saudi Arabia are trying to keep everything in the right direction.'
How have relationships changed in a decade?
There was tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia for the last decade, but in March last year, under the mediation of China, both the countries decided to forget the bitterness and move forward and restored diplomatic relations. In fact, in 2016, Saudi Arabia sentenced a Shia Muslim leader Nimr al-Nimr to death, after which tension increased between the two countries. At the same time, both the countries stood with different groups in the conflict of Syria and Yemen. But in recent times, a change is being seen in the relations between Saudi and Iran.
On the other hand, it is now very difficult for Saudi Arabia to have normal relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that without a free Palestine, it will not establish any kind of diplomatic relations with Israel. In such a situation, Saudi Arabia's growing closeness to Iran can be considered a big setback for both America and Israel.