Beginning of a new chapter in Iran-Saudi Arabia relations with Araqchi’s visit
Beginning of a new chapter in Iran-Saudi Arabia relations with Araqchi’s visit. Seyed Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, has traveled to Saudi Arabia and is also set to visit other countries in the region. This visit coincides with tensions between Iran and Israel due to Iran’s missile attack on the occupied territories and Israel’s operations in Lebanon.
Araqchi is heading to Riyadh while Tehran emphasizes its right to respond decisively to any Israeli attack on Iran, which implies a significant escalation of a war that could affect the entire region. Considering recent reports from Reuters about messages from GCC countries to Iran regarding neutrality in the current conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv, what message will Araqchi’s imminent visit to Saudi Arabia convey?
For the first time since taking office in August, Iran’s Foreign Minister is visiting Saudi Arabia with the aim of discussing regional issues and halting the war in Gaza and Lebanon.
He stated that consultations to stop the atrocities and condemn Israel are ongoing, and reiterated that Iran does not seek war but is not afraid of it either and is prepared for any scenario.
Araqchi, pointing out that all necessary targets for an attack have been identified, said that his country’s policy is to stop conflicts and reach an acceptable ceasefire. The head of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus mentioned that relations with GCC countries have seen many turning points, but there remains a willingness to cooperate. In September, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran seeks to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.
Since the signing of the reconciliation agreement and the resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing on March 20, 2023, Riyadh and Tehran have worked towards aligning viewpoints and enhancing cooperation with the goal of normalizing relations in various fields and exchanging high-level official visits over the past year. Amid the current war, GCC countries have adopted an approach to prevent war in the region.
In early October 2024, Reuters, citing three informed sources, reported that GCC ministers in Doha discussed reducing tensions in the region following Iran’s missile attack on the occupied territories. According to these sources, GCC countries sent a message to Iran assuring neutrality in the conflict amid concerns about the war potentially spreading across the region.
Iran has repeatedly, especially through Pezeshkian during his visit to Qatar, emphasized that it will respond forcefully to any further Israeli actions. According to American and Hebrew-language media, Israel, in retaliation for Iran’s attack, might target Iran’s intelligence and strategic positions in addition to nuclear sites and oil facilities.
In this context, Jordanian political analyst Munther Al-Hawarat said that Araqchi’s visit is an attempt to contain the explosive situation between Iran, the US, and Israel. In an interview with Al-Khaleej Online, he mentioned that Iran is seeking middle-ground solutions because it is certain that an Israeli attack might target its nuclear program, and Iran does not want Israeli and American missiles to reach it. The political analyst added that Iran is trying to propose initiatives to calm the situation in the region or at least prevent an Israeli attack, but nothing has been proposed so far.
He clarified that if not for the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, GCC countries might have been a target for Tehran, and this reconciliation between the two countries neutralized Iran’s arguments that GCC countries are US partners. The Jordanian analyst said that Araqchi’s visit might reassure GCC countries that they will not be targeted, but it seems Araqchi will ask them to step in to calm the situation and stop the tensions.
Al-Hawarat said that Iran’s losses are indeed significant because its policies, based on preemptive defense, are nearly collapsing, and now Iran’s defense will be from within. He stated that Iran does not have the capability to confront the US and Israel, hence it seeks to calm the situation to prevent Israeli attacks.
