After China's mediation, Iran and Saudi Arabia go further!

Author: Li Jinlei Gong Hongyu

On June 2023, 6, local time, the Iranian Embassy in Saudi Arabia officially reopened, opening a new historical chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

Earlier, under the mediation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, two Middle Eastern countries, shook hands and made peace after seven years of severing diplomatic relations. On April 4, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal and Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian met in Beijing, the first official meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years, and the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect. What are the benefits of breaking the ice between two Middle Eastern countries that have been resentful for a long time, to the regional and world situation? In the face of the "Middle East question" under the new situation and new situation, what kind of answer has China given?

Image source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

On these issues, China News Agency's East-West Dialogue invited Joseph Mahoney, deputy editor-in-chief of the Journal of Chinese Political Science and professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, to have a dialogue with Qu Qiang, a researcher at the University of Foreign Chinese in Beijing.

Joseph Mahoney believes that the two countries' previous choice to meet in Beijing shows that both countries trust China, and both are willing to demonstrate a positive response to China's mediation and their ability to promote peace between the two countries under China's mediation. In contrast, both countries are distrustful of the United States and are moving beyond the framework of the U.S.-led world order. Now America's global influence is declining. China is a defender of peace, in stark contrast to the United States, still mired in a Cold War mentality.

Qu Qiang said that China has always been the builder of the development of the Middle East, and the fact that two countries with major historical differences chose China again at the same time shows that they both recognize China's impartial, neutral and trustworthy international status in the region. Choosing China as a bridge for contact is the greatest trust in China's strength in all aspects. It also sends an important signal to the world that the era of US dominance and dominance in the Middle East is over.

Excerpts from the conversation are as follows:

China News Agency: With China's mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran have resumed diplomatic relations, why can China do it? What impact will this have on the global political economy?

Joseph Mahoney: We used to blame the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran on religious differences between Sunnis and Iranian Shiites. But to what extent does this conflict stem from U.S. hostility toward Iran, and a divide-and-conquer strategy to ensure that the U.S. dominates oil prices and therefore divides the Middle East? To what extent are these conflicts related to the special relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States?

Now the United States is retreating from the Middle East, leaving behind the troubles it has caused in the Middle East. The United States abandoned the Middle East mainly to evade responsibility and target China. In the process, as we have seen, US-Saudi relations deteriorated. China has good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, and China acted as mediator and facilitated the settlement without U.S. involvement.

Qu Qiang: After World War II, the first phase of US Middle East policy was mainly based on the consideration of the petrodollar. The reason why the United States supports the Saudi royal family and the Iranian Pahlavi dynasty is to ensure the supply of oil and the close link between the dollar and oil. But then a revolution broke out in Iran, and the United States considered the second phase of its Middle East policy in its best interests - divide and rule. The United States cannot ensure stability in the Middle East because of its own tensions with Iran. Iran was once an ally with the United States, but now it is the biggest competitor in the oil industry. Therefore, whichever side the United States favors will provoke more counterattacks from the other side.

But the situation is completely different in China, which is the builder of the development of the Middle East. China has no historical legacy in the Middle East, and China has been helping Iraq rebuild after the war, Saudi Arabia build its future city, and Iran rebuild its economy. Because China is friends of both sides, everyone has the patience to sit down, talk, and make decisions that are in the best interests of both sides and the entire region.

On June 6, local time, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Bigdeli, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Yusuf and others attended the resumption ceremony of the Iranian Embassy in Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

China News Agency: Why did Saudi Arabia and Iran choose Beijing again for their meeting on the resumption of diplomatic relations? What signal is released? Does the reconciliation of these two Middle Eastern countries mean the end of the era of US domination in the Middle East?

Joseph Mahoney: The choice of the foreign ministers of the two countries to meet in Beijing is based on China's constructive role in restoring relations between the two countries and China's neutral position. This move is sensible, as the two countries will make further progress in Beijing.

The meeting between the two countries in Beijing sent two signals: first, both countries trust China and are therefore willing to discuss topics that were impossible before Beijing; Second, both countries are willing to demonstrate a positive response to China's mediation and their ability to push for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Chinese mediation. By contrast, both countries are distrustful of the United States, and they are now moving beyond the framework of the U.S.-led world order. Now, America's global influence is declining.

We may be entering a new era in which China is demonstrating its role as a global defender of peace through great-power diplomacy, in stark contrast to the United States, still mired in a Cold War mentality.

Qu Qiang: First, the fact that two countries with major historical differences have chosen China again shows that the different geopolitical factions represented in the region recognize China's impartial, neutral and trustworthy international status in the region. Second, China's unique economic role complements the advantages of regional countries and is welcomed by regional countries. All countries are willing to take this opportunity to form long-term cooperative and development relations with China. China's modernization and the Belt and Road Initiative provide important opportunities for the sustainable and long-term development of countries in the region. Third, as an independent and peaceful developing country, China's political influence and comprehensive national capabilities can provide material and security guarantees for the future stable development of the region. In the past, the two countries also had a desire to contact each other, but because the United States and Western countries interfered with it, they repeatedly broke the halberd. Their choice to use China as a bridge for their contacts is the greatest trust in China's strength in all aspects.

It also sends an important signal to the world that the era of US dominance and dominance in the Middle East is over. Today's Middle East hopes to regain its position and influence on the international stage, and Middle East countries will increasingly welcome important countries outside the region, including China, to participate in regional affairs and cooperation.

On June 6, the Iranian Embassy in Saudi Arabia reopened.

China News Agency: China promoted the settlement of disputes between the two Middle Eastern countries, and previously issued a global security initiative. What are the characteristics of the practices of China and the United States in the field of global security?

Joseph Mahoney: The U.S. approach is a zero-sum game. The U.S. economy now depends on the dollar system, on the Federal Reserve, which can manipulate it in certain ways. In fact, the U.S. global security concept is to ensure that the United States can continue to maintain its hegemonic position. But now, the hegemonic position of the United States is weakening.

And China understands that whatever happens in the world will eventually affect itself. Because China, as the main trading partner of most countries in the world, plays a huge role in the global economy. Therefore, what is good for China will also benefit the world, and what can benefit the world will also benefit China. But the United States thinks differently on this point, and that's the key difference between the two countries' security outlook.

Qu Qiang: The "zero-sum game" is actually a very old thinking of some politicians in the West. The world has changed, and if you look around and walk around, you will find that this is a completely new world, and the interests of all countries are one. This is not a zero-sum game. "You're willing to watch your neighbors get better and better, because your country will benefit from it." This is a win-win outcome, and the United States should understand that.

China has always been a staunch advocate of multilateralism, for example, the Belt and Road Initiative is beneficial to the countries concerned and China itself, and everyone is a winner in the end. Together, we can make the world a better place.