WHERE geopolitics is concerned, Saudi Arabia and Iran are poles apart. The former is a steady ally of the US, though there has been some recent turbulence in that relationship, while the latter is a staunch enemy of America. Moreover, ever since the events of 1979, both states have sought to position themselves as leaders of the Muslim world. These diverging positions have resulted in immense dissonance, as both Riyadh and Tehran have fought each other in proxy wars across the Middle East. An extension of the Saudi-Iran rivalry has also affected Pakistan, influencing Shia-Sunni relations in this country. Therefore, whatever happens between Riyadh and Tehran has an impact on the Middle East, as well as the Muslim world in general. Hence, it is welcome that the decidedly cool relations between the Saudis and Iranians have warmed up a notch, with the Iranian foreign minister saying there have been “friendly” contacts with his Saudi counterpart. Both men recently attended a conference on Iraq in Jordan, where Iran’s Hossein Amirabdollahian said Saudi Arabia’s Faisal bin Farhan assured him of his country’s willingness to continue dialogue. Both sides have already been holding talks brokered by Iraq, though there has been a months-long gap since the last time representatives met.

The Saudi-Iran talks should continue, and the peace process could move forward considerably if both re-established diplomatic ties, snapped since 2016 when Riyadh executed vocal Saudi Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr. The UAE and Kuwait, which usually work in tandem with the Saudis where Iran is concerned, have earlier this year already re-established diplomatic relations. The fact is that Saudi Arabia and Iran cannot change their status as regional neighbours, and need to work out a way of living with each other, and respecting each other’s red lines. A Saudi-Iranian détente can also bring peace to Yemen, along with helping stabilise Lebanon and Iraq, as both states exercise influence in these countries, while intra-Muslim relations will also benefit greatly from improved ties between the two.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2022