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OPINION MARCH 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

The meaning of Saudi–Iran

Rapprochement with the Chinese

government in the middle

The agreement is a positive move to break the impasse, but a lot depends upon maintaining

the momentum that has been gained as a result of the talks. Further, the issues of discord
between them are numerous and complex

PRASANTA KUMAR PRADHAN

n a major breakthrough, on 10
March 2023, Saudi Arabia and
IIran signed an agreement to re-
store their diplomatic relationship,
which was severed in 2016 after the
Saudi Embassy in Tehran and Con-
sulate in Mashhad were ransacked
by protesters demonstrating against
the Saudi execution of Shia cleric
Nimr Al Nimr. Both countries agreed
to respect each other’s sovereignty
and not interfere with each other’s
internal affairs. They also agreed to
implement the security cooperation
agreement they had signed in 2001
and to cooperate in other fields such
as economy, trade, investment and
others. The agreement was signed in
Beijing which mediated between the
two and, in recent months, has taken
the five rounds of Iraq-mediated talks
in 2021 and 2022 between Saudi Ara-
bia and Iran to fruition. By signing an agreement with Iran to restore normalcy, Saudi Arabia hopes to protect borders and critical infrastructure
For Saudi Arabia, its military
involvement in Yemen has not from the Houthi attacks (File photo)
achieved the intended outcome of
pushing the Houthis out of the cap- men is a hindrance to achieving such The agreement, if implemented and the Red Sea can improve as a
ital Saana; rather, it has proved to goals. Therefore, an agreement with fully, has the potential to substantial- result of the increasing cooperation
be a drain on its economy. Riyadh, Iran is a practical move by Saudi ly improve the situation in Yemen. between the two countries.
therefore, wants an acceptable res- Arabia in terms of its national securi- The end of the Saudi military oper- The situation in countries like
olution and honorable exit from the ty and economic development. ation in Yemen and restraint on the Syria, Lebanon and Iraq may not im-
war in Yemen. Ever since 2015, Saudi By restoring diplomatic rela- part of the Houthis can significantly prove soon. Iran has an upper hand
Arabia has faced a large number of tions with Saudi Arabia, Iran would reduce armed violence in the coun- in these countries and has built its
missile and drone attacks from the try to end the increasing isolation it try. It can also significantly improve constituency over decades of politi-
Houthis which has emerged as a criti- is facing in the region and beyond. the humanitarian situation and help cal and economic engagement. Saudi
cal national security challenge for the Besides, it expects to receive support the country rebuild its economy. Im- Arabia, on the other hand, does not
Kingdom. from the regional countries over its mediately after the announcement of have the advantage that Iran has in
By signing an agreement with nuclear issue. An agreement with the agreement, the Yemeni govern- these countries. The behavior and
Iran to restore normalcy, Saudi Ara- Saudi Arabia would help cement its ment and the Houthis started talks activities of Hezbollah in Lebanon
bia hopes to protect borders and crit- ties with other members of the Gulf on prisoner exchange in Geneva. and Iran-backed militia groups in
ical infrastructure from the Houthi Cooperation Council (GCC) as well, But, at the same time, local fac- Iraq and Syria do not look to change
attacks. Also, to achieve the targets particularly Bahrain and the UAE. tors independent of Iran and Saudi immediately.
they have put before themselves The agreement would come as an Arabia may continue to create ten- The Saudi–Iran agreement will
under Saudi Vision 2030, long-term immediate relief for the Iranian gov- sions in the country. In their vicinity, have implications for US–Saudi re-
peace with Iran is necessary. Pro- ernment which has been facing pro- the maritime security environment in lations. Although the US and Saudi
longed military engagement in Ye- tests in recent months. the surrounding waters of the Gulf Continued on next page... >>

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