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Iran-Saudi deal not to hinder Saudi-'Israel' normalization: Israeli FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 May 2023 15:32
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Under the auspices of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations on March 10, but the Israeli Foreign Minister is saying that this move will not hinder normalization between "Tel Aviv" and Riyadh.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen talks during a news conference with Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus March 31, 2023. (Reuters)

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen remarked on Friday that the resumption of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia will not pose an obstacle to Israeli-Saudi normalization.

When asked to comment on the remarks delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the significance of Israeli-Saudi relations, Cohen said, as quoted by Israeli media outlet The Jerusalem Post, "It's not a matter of if, but of when. We and Saudi Arabia have the same interests."

He added that the resumption of relations between Riyadh and Tehran is not an obstacle to "Israel."

Under the auspices of China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations on March 10. The two countries had their ties severed in 2016 following Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

The agreement to officially restore diplomatic ties was signed at a ceremony on April 6 in Beijing.

The two countries are scheduled to resume direct flights, allow mutual visits by top officials, and foster security collaboration. The collective West has been set back by the China-sponsored peace.

Its "rules-based" world order hangs by a thread, while the US' dollar supremacy wanes.

The blow was hard for Netanyahu, who just a month prior to the Iran-Saudi deal said that "Israel" and Saudi Arabia were planning to join forces on the basis of a common goal of stopping Iran.

While the US failed to fulfill its security commitments towards Iran, Saudi Arabia decided to maneuver into a position backed by Chinese guarantees of security.