At the extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit held on November 11, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed the need to oblige “Israel to respect Iran's sovereignty and refrain from attacking Iranian soil."
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on October 26 expressing "its condemnation and denunciation of the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is a violation of its sovereignty and a violation of international laws and norms.”
It is important we think about two explicit political positions. They are key to understanding the trajectory that Riyadh and Tehran’s relations have been on since the "Beijing Agreement" of March 2023, which was sponsored by China. Both countries have repeatedly committed to implementing this agreement.
Saudi Arabia is pursuing a strategy aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East, and it is working to resolve outstanding issues with neighboring countries through direct dialogue. This is part of Riyadh’s vision that the most effective way to build a regional safety network, especially in this critical time of military and security issues during which Israel is committing a "genocide" against the Palestinian people, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said. He warned that Israel's ongoing war is “undermining efforts to grant the Palestinians their rights and achieve peace in the region."
Saudi Arabia is continuously developing state institutions, pursuing the objectives of "Vision 2030," diversifying income sources, drawing foreign investment, creating new job opportunities for citizens, and turning several regions and cities into tourist attractions. The country is also striving to play a leading role in the acquisition and investment in artificial intelligence technologies. Achieving this goal requires a stable and secure environment that allows major projects to grow without fear of devastating regional wars. Riyadh does not want regional unrest to drain its budget. Instead, it wants to channel its money toward the well-being and education of its people, as well as developing and building modern cities and projects.
To this end, Riyadh has been supporting reconciliation efforts among the various parties in Yemen, strengthening its southern borders, and communicating with the Houthis. So far, this has given rise, through a strategy that combines military strength, diplomacy, and relief, to arrangements that have allowed Saudi Arabia to avoid the kinds of attacks that it used to face.
To the east, Saudi Arabia has been working on restoring its relations with Iran, not from a position of weakness but to find out-of-the-box solutions!
American sanctions that were imposed because of IRGC actions have weakened Iran’s economy, sparking debates in Tehran about the feasibility of maintaining its ineffective policies towards its Arab neighbors that have compelled Iran to seek a rapprochement with the Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia.
The "Beijing Agreement" can be considered the cornerstone of Saudi-Iranian relations as they improve day by day. However, Riyadh wants to build this relationship on serious, sustainable understandings that address contentionious security and political issues. “Non-interference in internal affairs" and "respect for good neighborliness," are necessary for achieving this, as is ending the disruptive roles of armed organizations.
We certainly cannot claim that there is agreement on all of these, which requires objective operational conditions, and building them needs time. Additionally, the major military developments that the Middle East witnessed since October 7, 2023, have complicated the political landscape in unexpected ways. Crucially, however, Saudi Arabia and Iran have managed their relationship prudently despite these challenges, ensuring stability in the Arabian Gulf. This has created a safety net, and without it, the situation in the region could have deteriorated significantly. Both countries are highly influential, and it should not be forgotten that Iran is intrinsic to the "Axis of Resistance," which is currently taking part in the war on Israel from multiple fronts.
If we look at the timeline, we find that it shows accumulation that takes the form of a steadily rising trajectory.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit in the capital, Riyadh. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two men went over bilateral relations and several issues of mutual interest.
For its part, the "Iranian News Agency" quoted Mohammad Reza Aref praising "Riyadh's efforts in hosting the emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League," affirming that "the new path taken in recent months for the development and the broadening of communication and engagement between the two countries is irreversible." He also said that "the benefits of deepening and strengthening these bilateral relations will not be limited to Iran and Saudi Arabia. They will facilitate regional cooperation and solidarity among Islamic countries."
It was the second time an Iranian official met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the past five weeks- the Crown Prince previously had met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on October 9.
Prior to Mohammad Reza Aref's visit to the Kingdom, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the phone. During the call, "President Pezeshkian said that he hoped to develop and expand relations between the two countries more than ever before and in all fields," according to IRNA.
On the same day, Kazem Gharibabadi, Secretary of the Iran High Council for Human Rights Committee in Iran, went to Riyadh to take part in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting.
Speaking to American journalist Becky Anderson during a Future Investment Initiative event in Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that Saudi-Iranian relations are "heading in the right direction" but they are complicated by the “regional situation.” He added that Iran understands the danger of escalation and wants to avoid it, and said that the Kingdom has had frank and clear conversations with them.
Blunt and clear conversations between the two sides have improved relations, and they are being built slowly and without confusion or unwarranted haste. The goal is to seek dialogue for dialogue's sake or to build a superficial relationship, but to ensure that the two influential actors engage in constructive cooperation that will serve not only their interests but also precipitate pivotal shifts in the Middle East. If Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian can implement his more open foreign policies and neutralize the negative security repressions of the IRGC and the factions subordinate to it, then the relations will reach new levels.
