Iran/Saudi Arabia Rapprochement

IRAN/SAUDI ARABIA RAPPROCHEMENT

China has helped to bring about a resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, broken off in 2016. The rivalry between the two Persian Gulf oil-producing powers, including a recent proxy war in Yemen, may be winding down with the new China-brokered agreement.

Since World War II the US has been the dominant power in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East in general. But US partisanship, its animus against Iran, with whom it has virtually no ties, has removed it as a possible broker for peace in the area. China has stepped into the void.

It is hard to say how far the new accord between Iran and Saudi Arabia will go, but it is a positive step toward peace. Israel and US hawks are no doubt angry at the China-brokered deal. But the US has not even been able to revive the agreement canceled by Trump to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons and has continued maximum pressure on Iran with sanctions. The US has also been critical of Saudi policies and actions, with some justification. But all of this removes the possible role of the US as peacemaker in the area.