Iran, Saudi relations major blow to 'Israel' hopes of anti-Iran axis

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen net + Agencies
6 Apr 2023 17:41
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The restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is "deeply" concerning to "Israel".

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (C) and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Beijing, China on April 6, 2023 (AFP)

The Israeli occupation entity considers that the restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is deeply concerning and is a major blow to the plans of the entity and the United States, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said on Thursday.

"Tel Aviv and Washington in the past years hoped to exploit the rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran in order to establish an Israeli-Arab axis against Iran's efforts to create a nuclear weapon" and considered that "the announcement of the agreement, which was achieved with the mediation of China, dealt a severe blow to these hopes."

According to analysts as quoted by the Israeli newspaper, "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is working to change the dynamic in the Middle East, unlike in the past recent years when his kingdom came close to a confrontation with Iran."

On March 10, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen missions in respective countries after a series of talks brokered in Beijing, China, under the auspices of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud sealed these efforts by a meeting between the two countries' diplomats in Beijing for the first time in seven years.

During the meeting, both officials exchanged views on issues related to bilateral matters, in addition to discussing steps to reopen embassies and pursue the official restoration of mutual relations.

The foreign ministers concluded the meeting by signing a joint statement that affirms that both countries will coordinate efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Beijing agreement.

The agreement means restoring Syrian-Arab relations

The Israeli newspaper said the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran is leading to dramatic developments in everything related to the status of Syria - Iran's ally - in the Arab world, especially since Saudi Arabia is planning to invite Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to the Arab League summit to be held in Riyadh in May.

If this plan is realized, it will officially represent the restoration of relations between Syria and the rest of the Arab world, which were severely damaged by the outbreak of the war in 2011.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is expected to travel to the capital Damascus in the next few weeks to submit the invitation to Al-Assad to the summit. Initial plans for a visit by either Prince Faisal to Syria or by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Saudi Arabia were postponed as a result of the February 6 earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria.