- Saudi Arabia Seeks Maritime Security Cooperation with Iran
- Iran’s Broad Definition of Security and Reconciliation Efforts
- Changing Dynamics in Gulf Region
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated on Saturday that as part of its rapprochement with its longtime rival Iran, Saudi Arabia seeks to enhance maritime security in the vital Gulf region.
In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement mediated by China to end a diplomatic rift and reestablish relations after years of hostility that had threatened regional stability in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
“I’d like to emphasize the significance of cooperation between the two nations on regional security, particularly the security of maritime navigation… Prince Faisal emphasized the significance of cooperation among all regional nations to rid the region of weapons of mass destruction.
Prince Faisal stated, following discussions with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran, that the Saudi monarch and crown prince look forward to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi “accepting the invitation to visit the kingdom shortly, God willing.”
Amirabdollahian stated at a televised media event that regional countries’ security was crucial.
“Iran has never equated security with militarism. Rather, it views security as a broad concept encompassing political, cultural, social, economic, and commercial elements,” he explained.
After protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran in 2016, the kingdom suspended ties with Iran.
The passage of a fifth of the world’s crude through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf has become the focal point of a standoff between Iran and the United States, which has increased its military presence in the region in recent years.
Recently, Iran has been attempting to reconcile its strained relationships with several Gulf Arab states.
Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with Iran has left Israel essentially alone in its diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran.
UAE, the first Gulf Arab nation to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, established diplomatic relations with Iran in 2017.
Bahrain and Morocco later established connections with Israel alongside the UAE.
