Analysts say that, by ramping up communication to contain the Israel-Hamas conflict, Saudi Arabia and Iran have strengthened their bond, AFP reports.

This has led to the first phone call between Prince Mohammed and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi — just five days after the crisis broke out — and a visit by Raisi to Riyadh in November for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

“Yes, there will be tensions and I think nobody thought there won’t be any tensions, but the fact they are talking about it is something that is bringing a lot of strategic benefit,” Alghashian said.

If the deal weren’t in place, said Rabha Saif Allam of the Cairo Center for Strategic Studies, Saudi-Iranian rancour “could have increased the possibility of a broader regional conflict erupting”.