Notes on the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement

Written by: Dr. Iyad Al-Barghouti

It is not wise to rely on a single step, or as it is until now, merely announcing that step, and by it we mean the announcement of the Saudi-Iranian agreement related to the return of diplomatic relations between the two countries, to write about its impact on the strategic changes in the region. But the importance of this step, which is taking place between two main parties in the region, who seemed to be in a state of intractable hostility, made it worth the adventure (writing), not only for us and our peoples to know what is going on, but for us and our peoples to contribute to making what is happening real. And in the right direction that we want, which is the direction of positive contribution to the global changes taking place now, represented by the rejection of imperialist domination in all its forms, and work to make the East - our East - a master, free and unified, as the majority of its people wish.

How serious is the Saudi move?
What is reassuring is that this Saudi step for "normalization" with Iran is not an isolated and isolated step, and there are previous harbingers of it that must be read and taken into consideration, without exaggerating its impact, such as the Saudi position on the war in Ukraine, where it took a closer position. To non-alignment, from it to the traditional alignment with America, so it donated to Ukraine nearly half a billion dollars, and at the same time it did not comply with the American sanctions against Russia, nor did it reduce the price of oil, or put pressure on OPEC to do so.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has also arranged its relationship with Turkey and Qatar, and is no longer concerned with the continuation of the war in Yemen, and has changed, even partially, its approaches to the relationship with other countries in the region, or even with the influential countries in the world.

What is clear to us, and without going far - at least until now - to talk about Saudi Arabia's complete withdrawal from the American umbrella, is that Saudi Arabia, which has linked its interests, and even its entire existence, to America since the establishment of diplomatic relations between them in 1933, has begun to see that this positioning is no longer wise. And that its interest requires keeping other doors open, in addition to the American gate, of course.

Saudi Arabia has provided invaluable "services" to America, from an early age. For the sake of America and the imperialist project, Saudi Arabia fought against the project of the Arab nation represented in Nasserite nationalism, materially and intellectually. And for her sake, she put the Wahhabi Islamic project that she led, alongside America and against the Soviet Union and the socialist world, in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and she contributed to the uniqueness of America in sovereignty over the world. And above all, and more important than all of the above, is the Saudi role in the matter of linking the price of oil to the US dollar, as Saudi Arabia was the first to have the “credit” for making the dollar the most important currency in the world, and making it the main force in the hands of the United States to dominate others.

All these "services" provided by Saudi Arabia, and many others, were not met with American "gratitude". In my opinion, the “coincidence” that brought a president like Trump to the presidency of the United States revealed to Saudi Arabia that the “love” for America is from the Saudi side only, and that what is supposed to be the American ally does not appreciate all that Saudi Arabia has provided, and that this ally is meticulous in blackmailing it, politically when It was pressured to enter into the project of the century, which requires normalization with Israel, so Saudi Arabia gave the green light to Bahrain, the UAE and others to do so. As well as financial blackmail when Trump “got” nearly half a trillion dollars from the Saudi king.

Saudi Arabia felt not only all this blackmail, but also the recklessness and humiliation that accompanied it. Trump tells the Saudi king, "You have to pay the money, because you have nothing else... and you will not remain in power for two weeks without us." Netanyahu promises the Israelis full normalization with Saudi Arabia as a foregone conclusion, meaning that Saudi Arabia cannot refuse this.

It is well known that the sovereignty of states is also associated with the dignity of their systems. Of course, this matter is uneven and relative from one country to another, and from one regime to another, especially in our region. I believe that the Saudi regime represented by a new generation of leadership, accompanied by some social and intellectual changes among the Saudi people, has more sensitivity to the concepts of sovereignty and dignity, than the previous ruling generations, and therefore it was necessary for it to think of something of "rebellion".

This coincided with the introduction of the new Saudi regime itself as the leader of the "Arab" project in its new version. Saudi Arabia now sees itself as the leader of the Arab world, as it does not lack the financial capabilities for that, and it also has an ambitious young prince who sees himself as a regional leader, if not more than that.

Whoever presents himself as the leader of a regional project of this magnitude cannot be satisfied with himself being a "follower" with all the clarity that America wants, nor can he accept himself adopting a "sectarian" project that not only puts him in the face of many within his nation. Even in the face of not a simple part of his people. That is what made the Saudi prince invest in the historical opportunity offered by the war in Ukraine, if he really did so, as well as his curtailing the deep-rooted Wahhabi religious institution, which gave Saudi Arabia a “shape” that is no longer acceptable in our time.

From step to approach
The peoples of the region have the right to remain in a state of awaiting how this new Saudi step will develop, as matters are still in their first line. It would be a great disappointment if that first line was her last line. And that the step is nothing more than an attempt to get Saudi Arabia out of the problems it has been stuck with, especially in Yemen, as well as in Saudi Arabia's new approach to normalizing its relations with its neighbors.

There are, of course, conditions for the seriousness of this step, including the need for a different approach towards intra-regional issues, resolving differences through dialogue and not turning it into wars, and by going to Al-Aqsa and recalling history, ideology and everything. This requires Saudi Arabia to enter into a serious dialogue, not only with Iran, but also and first with the representatives of the peoples of the region in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Lebanon, in order to solve the problems of those countries and contribute positively to rebuilding them, consolidating their national unity, and ensuring their stability.

In order for the step to be serious as well, the circle of those concerned should be expanded, meaning that it should not be limited to the level of the ruling regimes, but should be extended to include the elites, intellectuals and peoples, not only in Saudi Arabia and Iran, but also in all the countries of the region. This gives it momentum and immunity to the fluctuations that may take place.

However, the most important evidence of the credibility of the Saudi step towards Iran is the removal of all doubts about its position on normalization with Israel, and its vision of the Palestinian cause, the issue that is the criterion for everything that is happening in our region - at least -. The issue is that without the radical stance towards it and with it, no party, regardless of its sources of power, can become a leader in the region, but rather it cannot claim the right to this leadership.

Within this, it will be important for Saudi Arabia to take a serious stance against normalization with Israel, as the claim of American pressure on it for this is no longer sufficient to explain it, and it is no longer convincing to anyone, especially to the Arab peoples, and first of all to the Saudi people themselves.

It seems that Saudi Arabia has intelligently and positively noticed the changes taking place in the world. The world order dominated by America, which many believed was the "end of history", is changing. The United States is no longer the undisputed master of the world. Its hegemonic grip no longer holds all the details of the world, states and peoples, with the same force it had during the last three decades, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It seems that the multipolar world order, in which China and Russia, as well as Iran play a major role, is taking shape more quickly than many expected. Therefore, Saudi Arabia must move forward in investing this historic opportunity for the benefit of its people and the peoples of the region, and to contribute to creating a more stable and just world... Also, elites, especially intellectuals in the Arab world and the East in general, must work to consolidate awareness of the values of solidarity and unity between its people, because in that guarantee is the basis for the success of its liberation project.

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* Palestinian academic residing in Ramallah