Last month, the despotic regimes of Saudi Arabia and Iran announced a thaw in their relationship, after several years of bitter rivalry and taking opposite sides in the bloody war in Yemen. Earlier today, the two autocratic governments made it official and re-established diplomatic ties with each other, a clear win for China (where the ceremony was held) and its ally Russia. The Associated Press reports that the two new partners will be engaged in "economic cooperation" (i.e., "oil extortion") and fostering "regional stability" (cracking down on democratic movements):
"Long-time Mideast rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia took another significant step toward reconciliation Thursday, formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, affirming the need for regional stability and agreeing to pursue economic cooperation.
The agreement was reached in Beijing during a meeting between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers, a month after China had brokered an initial reconciliation agreement between the two regional powerhouses. [snip]
Thursday’s announcement also represents another diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States slowly withdrawing from the wider region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian laid out details of Thursday’s agreement in a tweet, after his talks with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The minister wrote that Thursday marked the beginning of 'official diplomatic relations ... economic and commercial cooperation, the reopening of embassies and consulates general, and the emphasis on stability, stable security and development of the region.' Amirabdollahian said that the issues are 'agreed upon and on the common agenda.'” (our emphasis)
Anyone want to wager that their "common agenda" will be good for the United States and our allies? Under the bloody hand of Crown Prince Mohammed bin "Bone Saw" Salman, Saudi Arabia has turned toward Russia and China, refusing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and driving up oil prices before the 2022 election, among other hostile acts. Meanwhile, Iran-backed forces have been launching attacks on U.S. troops in Syria, and providing Russia with lethal weaponry for use in Ukraine. It's beyond time that we reevaluate our relations with the Saudi regime; it's clear that they have.
(photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, right, and Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. AFP)
