In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on Friday that they have agreed to resume normalized relations and open embassies in each other's countries within the next two months. Brokered by China, the deal marks a return to normalized relations between the two countries after Saudi Arabia broke up its ties with Iran in 2016.
The agreement has far-reaching implications for the Middle East and the rest of the world. It signal a weakening of the United States’ position in the region and an increasing role for China in diplomatic engagement. Israel will also be affected, as Iran has long been one of its top adversaries.
The deal has been welcomed by the Syrian government, as it could give a strategic advantage to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the ongoing civil war. It may also end the civil war in Yemen, since both Saudi Arabia and Iran have backed different sides in the conflict.
It is in a difficult position as it has been downscaling its presence in Syria and Afghanistan, while also demanding security guarantees and assistance with its civil nuclear program in order to normalize relations with Israel. It is a reminder of China’s growing influence in the region, as well as the Biden administration’s visit to Saudi Arabia last summer and its criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s human rights abuses.
The closer ties between the two countries could help facilitate a political solution to end the war in Yemen and the international community has been advocating for this for some time. The agreement could potentially have lasting effects throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world and could make it more difficult for Israel to achieve normalized relations with Saudi Arabia.