Tehran-Riyadh agreement: a resounding coup for Chinese diplomacy

Wang Yi, China's top foreign official, with Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, Saudi Arabia's security adviser, on the left, and Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani, on the right, in Beijing this Friday, March 10, 2023. via REUTERS - CHINA DAILY

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7 mins

After seven years of diplomatic rupture, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed on Friday March 10 to resume their bilateral relations, including the reopening of their embassies within two months.

A tripartite declaration was signed for the occasion between the two countries and China, which played the mediators in this reconciliation.

A good blow, on the diplomatic level.

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With our correspondent in the United States,

The diplomatic rapprochement and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, under the aegis of China, has aroused surprise, particularly in the United States, where there is a certain restraint.

Minimum service, on the side of the Biden administration.

At the State Department, we do not react, even by press release.

The only direct reaction comes from the communications coordinator for national security issues.

John Kirby explains that Washington supports all efforts to reduce tension in the Middle East, and in particular to end the war in Yemen.

He also claims that even though his country was not involved in the negotiations, it was kept informed every step of the way by the Saudi side.

But is cautious about Iran's willingness to meet its obligations, pointing out that in American experience, this country does not always honor its word.

On the other hand, this agreement having been concluded under the aegis of China, seen as a systemic rival to Washington, it refutes the idea of ​​an American withdrawal from the region, which Beijing would take advantage of to extend its influence.

Also asked about the agreement, Joe Biden does not comment directly.

He prefers to explain that anything that could ease tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors would be a good thing.

The Jewish state would like to establish diplomatic relations with Riyadh.

But the Saudi Kingdom has obviously chosen to do so first with Iran, a determined adversary of Israel and the United States.

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Seen from Israel, a real slap in the face for the Western camp

With our correspondent in Jerusalem,

It's a real slap in the face for Washington and Israel, say the Israeli media.

Bad news, say some commentators in the face of this new deal.

Opposition and majority reject each other's responsibility.

A senior Israeli political source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told a briefing in Rome, where Binyamin Netanyahu is currently, that the previous government is responsible.

Nonsense, retorts Yaïr Lapid, the leader of the opposition.

In a press release, he specifies that everything stopped with the establishment of this extremist coalition in Israel, and when the Saudis understood that Mr. Netanyahu is now a weak politician who no longer has influence on the Americans.

“ 

 ,” said Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, MP from Likud, the party of the leader of the government.

And for the left-wing daily

, it is the end of an Israeli dream, the expansion of the Abraham Accords, in other words the hope of creating a front with Arab countries to counter Iran.

The way is now open, continues the newspaper, for the reactivation of talks with Tehran with a view to a nuclear agreement.

►On the same subject

A thaw hailed by the countries of the Middle East

With our correspondent in Dubai,

This is a resounding agreement for the Middle East.

First, because the two best enemies of the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Iran, have officially decided to renew their relations.

But also because China, where this agreement was signed, is playing a new diplomatic role beyond economic interests.

In the press release published on Friday, the official Saudi press agency did not fail to underline from the outset "

 ".

Does this mean that China will replace American influence in this region of the world?

Nothing is less sure.

But this formulation is a clear message addressed to Washington, the historic ally of Riyadh, with whom relations have been strained for some time, to say the least.

In any case, in the Gulf, the news was welcomed by Saudi Arabia's neighbors and partners.

At the head of which is the Sultanate of Oman which, for three years, has been a key intermediary between the two countries.

And also by the United Arab Emirates, which already sent its ambassador back to Tehran last summer in the hope of easing regional tensions.

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Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, right, China's top diplomat Wang Yi, center, and Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, in Beijing on Friday, March 10, 2023. PA

A look back at an agreement as unexpected as it is spectacular 

With our correspondent in Beijing,

This tripartite statement comes after four days of secret negotiations between Beijing and the two big rivals in the Middle East.

Images circulating on social networks show three large tables in a triangle, as well as the Saudi, Chinese and Iranian flags against a background of orientalist paintings, as we regularly see on the walls of palaces in the People's Republic of China.

Between the two senior security officials in Tehran and Riyadh, the director of the office of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Committee hailed a victory for "dialogue and peace 

 .

As a " 

 " and " 

 " mediator, China has fulfilled its duties as host and facilitator of the talks,

continued to the press, the Saudi statement thanking the Chinese president abundantly for his " 

 ”.

" 

 ", indicated for his part the secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.

These commitments to resume talks must now be acted upon.

But for Beijing, which regularly repeats wanting to play a role of " 

 ", this mediation operation would only be the successful implementation of

presented by China two weeks ago.

Few details have leaked from these talks apart from the tripartite declaration, which states that apart from the reopening of diplomatic representations within two months, the two former rivals have also agreed to activate a signed cooperation and security agreement. in 2001.

Two questions about warming Riyadh-Tehran relations

With this rapprochement, Beijing signs a diplomatic coup that the United States is forced to observe as spectators, analyzes Héloïse Fayet, researcher at the French Institute for International Relations (Ifri).

“ 

she explains,

 ".

Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been complicated, especially since Joe Biden came to power.

We remember his trip to Saudi Arabia, which was not successful.

Relations between the United States and Iran, let's not even talk about it.

And so, effectively, the United States did not even appear as a potential partner, a potential mediator.

He was not expected to play a role in the mediations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

On the other hand, the very strong position taken by China is perhaps a little more surprising.

Héloïse Fayet, researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri)

Nicolas Falez

Iranians and Saudis have an interest in this rapprochement, believes the Ifri researcher: " 

 »

So there, the main advantage for both countries is a much lower risk of escalation, whether military or political.

From the specific side of Saudi Arabia, it can be expected that Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen against the Houthis, who are partially supported by Iran, will be easier if Iran ever reduces its support for the Houthis.

And then, on the Iranian side, it allows you to really have a breathing valve while Iran is increasingly cornered and isolated on the international scene.

So there you have it, a little respite for Iran.

Héloïse Fayet, on the interest for Riyadh and Tehran of this rapprochement

Nicolas Falez

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