Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said; New meetings with Saudi Arabia were scheduled to take place in a third country, which he did not mention.
“We have always left the door open for Riyadh to return to normal relations whenever it wants, and Tehran has not completely severed diplomatic relations with Riyadh,” Abdullahian said during a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
While his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan said at the same conference; His country has made progress in negotiations with Iran to revive bilateral relations, which is “not enough.”
“Iran must build trust for future cooperation,” he said during a Davos summit.
The positive statements and messages of the two sides were released after several rounds of talks between them in Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman, which raised the question of whether there is further progress in the talks.
Mubarak al-Ati, a Saudi writer and political analyst, notes that the kingdom and Iran have spent more than a year holding five security-level consultations in Baghdad mediated by Iraq, showing that the two countries are really making progress. But because of the mistrust between them is very slow.
“But the achievements of the fifth round of consultations, which were reflected in the achievement of a 10-point document, gave the impression that he expected a real breakthrough that was eligible,” al-Ati told Al-Arabi 21. “Holding a meeting where the two countries’ foreign ministers meet in Baghdad or Muscat.”
He noted that the ministerial meeting could open a new chapter in bilateral relations cut off from 2016, as well as statements issued by both sides expressing mutual satisfaction with the consultations and then anticipate a new round. From the talks, but this time diplomatic consultations are qualified. A meeting will be held at the level of foreign ministers.
He added: “It is clear from the statements of the foreign ministers of the two countries that there is commitment to the continuation of these consultations, but the only obstacle is the lack of confidence in the objective actions of any outcome that may be agreed upon.”
He expressed the view that Riyadh and Tehran need more time and continue serious consultations, as well as a guarantor international mediator who can positively influence the implementation of the results.
He concluded: “There are growing signs that the foreign ministers of the two countries are meeting, which means the return of diplomatic relations, especially as we approach the Hajj season, when we may see an agreement between them.”
Writer and political analyst Emad al-Jubouri, for his part, said that Iran is a real problem in the progress of negotiations with the Saudi side.
He added to “Arabi 21”: “Iran has its own project that has been agreed with the US foreign policy in the region and also with the humiliation of the Zionist side in the region.”
He added: “On the other hand, the Arab and Saudi sides really want and expect stability in the region, and this ideal includes economic and trade aspects, and then the problem is from the Iranian side and behind it the Americans.” “The government, not the Arab side.”
He stressed: “After the round of talks between the two sides, the main problem is that Saudi Arabia does not want these talks and their results to be only bilateral, that is, it does not want to be only between Iran and the kingdom.” “Rather, it wants to solve all the problems between Tehran and all the countries in the region in the form of a package.”
He continued: “On the other hand, Iran does not want to enter such margins in one meeting, but wants to take each case separately, which shows that this meeting is for the sake of the meeting and moving towards melting.” Ice.”
He noted: “Any researcher or observer who pursues the Arab-Iranian issue knows that Tehran will not back down from its project and its achievements in the four Arab countries and is only ready to suspend its project for a while.” “But it will not back down, or, to be more precise, it will not cancel the project.”
For his part, Talal Atrisi, a writer and political analyst, said: “Although the negotiations are slow and the meetings are relatively far apart, relations between the two countries are moving in a positive direction, but this is due to the legacy of “Alienation, tension and mutual distrust.”
“There are new equations in the region that impose themselves on both sides, and that means progress in the negotiations,” he said.
In an interview with “Arabi 21”, Atrisi explained these equations and said: “On the one hand, Iran always emphasizes that it is ready for positive relations with neighboring countries, all the ruling political parties in Iran, both during the presidency and in Presidential term. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reaffirm the priority of relations with neighboring countries and the common security of the Persian Gulf, away from foreign interference.
He noted that Iran has positive and strong relations with most of the countries in the Persian Gulf, with the possible exception of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and this could mean that it does not oppose the development of these relations.
He added: “On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is watching the world today and seems to have confidence in the United States, which in previous years pressured the country to return to normal relations with Tehran.” It’s gone, and Saudi Arabia’s conditions that the United States can change the situation in Iran or blockade and isolate it are no longer possible.
He added: “Then Saudi Arabia also thinks that the United States is not protecting its friends and allies like Afghanistan, and these changes in the kingdom may make it think that positive relations with Iran in the region can provide more security and stability than the United States.” Protection, especially since the world today does not know where it is going.
“For all these reasons, he thinks the situation is going in the right direction, especially since Saudi Arabia’s statements are positive, such as those recently made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in whom he said Iran is a neighbor,” he said. That should be dealt with and coexist, or the remarks of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibn Farhan, in which he said that things are positive and we want to develop relations.
Simultaneously with these talks, Tehran negotiated with the P5 + 1 countries to reactivate the nuclear deal and reactivate the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan (CJAP), also known as the “Iran Nuclear Deal.”
“All parties are now seeking calm,” said Theodore Karasic, senior adviser to the Gulf Analysts in Washington.
He continued to “Arabi 21”: “As usual, there are tensions in the Persian Gulf with different degrees of heat, but according to the outcome of the Borjam process, everyone in the region is either moving towards calming the situation for more potential cooperation or to ignite it.” “More tensions.”
He added: “It is clear that we intend to keep relations smooth, not only to continue to improve economic problems, at least in the case of Iran, but also to continue the ongoing operations in Yemen, so that the Houthis do not resume.” “Missile and drone strikes.”
He added: “Let’s be clear, there will be problems, but now all stages in another global environment are full of relatively positive risks, the most important of which is food shortages.”
For his part, Giorgio Cafeiro, CEO of the Gulf Analysis Corporation in Washington, D.C., said that as the Saudis lose confidence in the US commitment to the security of the Persian Gulf, no alternative power will replace the United States in this role. , Riyadh is convinced that more diplomatic engagement with Iran is in the interests of the monarchy.
“The situation in Yemen will be critical for the future of Saudi-Iranian relations, and the ceasefire in Yemen is very fragile,” Kafiro said in an interview with Arabic 21. It is a positive promise for diplomacy between Riyadh and Tehran.
He noted that the resumption of Houthi missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia undermines the 2030 vision, which is very important for Muhammad bin Salman and the Saudi people.
“If the nuclear talks in Vienna fail to revive the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan, Iran could use Yemen as an arena to create more problems for its enemies, and Saudi Arabia does not want Tehran to use Yemen to undermine security,” he said. From the kingdom. “
“At the same time, the president’s government really wants to see Iran improve its relations with its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, regardless of the uncertain fate of the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan,” he added.
“If Iran can use its influence on the Houthis to pressure the insurgents to extend the ceasefire and not attack Saudi Arabia, that would give Riyadh a reason to consider diplomacy with Iran effective,” he said.
He added: “However, the Houthis are not proxies of Iran, they have their own administration, so it is unclear whether Tehran is in a position to ensure that Saudi Arabia will not be attacked at any time in the future.”
Reuters reported last week, quoting a Saudi source; Commenting on the presence of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed in the delegation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has traveled to the UAE for condolences, the transfer of power in the kingdom is imminent.
This raises the question of the impact of the transfer of power to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on the progress of the Tehran-Riyadh talks and whether the young prince is seeking the throne and whether Riyadh has problems with neighboring countries and the region.
Emad al-Jubouri, a political analyst, said in response to this question: “As is evident in the customs of the ruling families in the Persian Gulf, and given their behavior and internal affairs, there is no problem in transferring power.” And without a doubt, the young leadership seeks to end any problems with neighboring countries, especially Iran, just as it did with Turkey.
On the other hand, Theodore Karasik believes: “Bin Salman does not necessarily seek to resolve his differences with other countries before taking power, especially since there are other factors related to the security situation in the region, but “Muhammad bin Salman will most likely seal his throne at that time.” And with growing cohesion around Arab security partners, this is about the near and medium future.
Source: Lebanon Debate
