A three-day informal Arab-Iranian Dialogue has just taken place in Doha (Qatar). The conference, mostly held behind closed doors, acquired special significance because it took place shortly after events showing that the world may be ready to turn a new page in its history. First, the top leadership of both countries – Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei not only positively perceived the idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin to create a multipolar world, but are also actively implementing this plan. Second, both leaders vigorously advocate limiting the overwhelming and negative role of the United States in the entire Gulf region.
The Iranian participants included former officials and high-ranking representatives of universities and semi-official institutions. They offered different points of view on Tehran’s regional policy. The majority expressed a new desire for interaction, reconciliation and cooperation. For the first time, they agreed to the idea of holding negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Iran’s nuclear program. They showed flexibility on some regional issues, which was even more evident during the negotiations on the sidelines of the main event.
It should be recalled that the relations of the Arab world with Iran were complicated during the era of Mohammad Reza Shah, and especially after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. Since then, Tehran has been paying increased attention to its foreign policy and spreading the ideas of the Islamic Revolution in neighboring countries, especially the Arab world. Harsh, unjustified sanctions by the United States and European countries forced the Iranian leadership to militarize the Iranian economy in order to protect the country’s sovereignty, which led to the impoverishment of its people and brought the once prosperous country to the brink of collapse. But Tehran has successfully overcome all the obstacles of the Western world on its way to sovereignty and is following the path of protecting the Iranian people’s own interests. Many independent countries, led by Russia and China, are helping Iran in this.
The Arab League summit, held in Jeddah on May 18, came forward with an initiative of regional de-escalation. For that purpose, it revisited its positions on Iran, attempting to defuse some of the regional crises where Tehran has been involved, including Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, encouraging dialogue and reconciliation. Inviting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Tehran, to this Summit was part of that effort. Saudi Arabia chaired the summit and will lead the Arab League until the next summit is convened in 2024, which will give it a chance to shape the implementation of the decisions made in Jeddah.
In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed, with the help of China, to resume diplomatic relations after a seven-year rift. This diplomatic breakthrough sent shockwaves through the region and across Western capitals and paved the way toward the reconciliatory positions adopted at the Arab League Summit. Going beyond the mere resumption of diplomatic relations, the two countries stressed in a joint statement issued in Beijing their commitment to the “sovereignty of states and noninterference in their internal affairs,” referencing two important principles underpinning the conflict with Iran. The fact that Tehran agreed to undertake this commitment was another breakthrough in establishing friendly ties between the countries located on both shores of the Gulf.
On both shores of the Gulf, there is great yearning to go back in history to when the region lived in relative peace, security and stability. For centuries, the same ethnic groups and families have lived in the Gulf region and maintained rich cultural and prosperous economic ties. The states share the same space geographically and have equally important common economic and strategic interests, which obliges them to settle their various differences. With regard to still disputed issues there should be a clear way to resolve them politically and peacefully, in accordance with international standards and norms of interstate relations. It may be hard but it’s doable. Unfortunately, self-centered, aggressive intentions of Western countries, led by the United States, stand in this way.
The Arab Summit stressed that Arab regional security is indivisible. Security in the Gulf is an integral and important part of Arab security, and the security of Arab States is no less important for the Gulf. Iran, according to Western analysts and politicians who actively pursue their own interest and promote their point of view, allegedly wants to establish its dominance and the security of its borders. It is also unclear why the GCC states are concerned about Iran’s involvement in the affairs of Arab states such as Syria, Lebanon or Yemen. The Middle East is a single organism, and the participation of some states in the affairs of others is a normal diplomatic practice. After all, no one objects when Riyadh is actively involved in the affairs of other Arab countries, the latest example being Saudi assistance to Sudan in resolving its internal conflict.
Naturally, there are also disagreements between Iran and its Gulf neighbors over international security cooperation. The GCC states are active members of important security partnerships, including the Combined Maritime Forces, which coordinate the work of 38 countries to combat illegal activities of non-state actors, such as piracy and smuggling. Conversely, Iran actively speaks against any foreign presence in the security sphere, using populist arguments about ending colonialism and foreign domination. It strongly opposes the aggressive actions of the United States in and around the Gulf, considering them a continuation of the European policy of colonialism, with such examples as American aggressions against Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, from which those countries to this day are unable to recover and establish a normal life.
It is necessary to lay a solid ground for the success of concrete negotiations on critical by agreeing upon rules governing relations between the states of the region and on confidence-building measures in order to maintain de-escalation. These issues can be discussed along five interrelated vectors. The vector of policy and diplomacy comprises the discussion of regional issues, such as Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, in order to promote political solutions in accordance with UN resolutions and achieve political goals without the use of force or threats. It also covers the proliferation of nuclear weapons, missiles and drones, especially among non-state actors.
The security vector covers the fight against terrorism, sectarian militias and other armed groups operating outside the law. Interestingly, it is precisely such illegal groups that the United States provides weapons and support with in their fight against official governments. The economic vector explores trade and investment opportunities, including in the field of renewable energy. The sustainable development vector considers possible cooperation in efforts to reverse climate change and rehabilitate the marine environment in the Gulf. Finally, the cultural vector includes discussions to revive historically rich Arab-Iranian cultural exchanges. To ensure the success of this interaction, both official and non-governmental channels, including business groups, universities and research centers, should be engaged in discussions.
It is worth noting that specifically Russia and the BRICS countries not only encourage this policy, but also provide every possible support to the countries of the Arab world and Iran. A striking example of this can be the results of the meeting of foreign ministers that just ended in Cape Town (South Africa) to prepare for the summit of heads of state in August. About 20 foreign ministers of non-BRICS countries were present, including those from Iran and Saudi Arabia, which actively express interest in joining this international organization.
The Foreign Ministers of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held productive talks on the sidelines of the “Friends of BRICS” meeting. Amir-Abdollahian expressed satisfaction with the good progress in relations between the two countries and said that the ground had been prepared for reopening of embassies and consulates in each country. Iran and Saudi Arabia have mutually appointed ambassadors to Riyadh and Tehran. Amir Abdollahian and Faisal bin Farhan met for the first time in Beijing on April 6 to discuss key details of the resumption of relations after a landmark agreement signed by the heads of the security services of Iran and Saudi Arabia. During the meeting in Cape Town, Faisal bin Farhan said that the two countries had quickly passed the stage of appointing ambassadors and were moving towards a “new stage” that would serve “the interests of the two nations and the entire region.” The chief diplomat of Iran also thanked Saudi Arabia for the organization and provision of conditions for Iranian pilgrims’ travel to Mecca and Medina for the Hajj. According to Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia is keen to develop future cooperation with BRICS to achieve collective prosperity.
The great successes achieved by the GCC countries and, above all, Saudi Arabia over the past decades in the fields of economy, social development, education, culture and art can become more significant, comprehensive and sustainable as soon as Iran and its Arab neighbors are able to restore the necessary trust and the spirit of cooperation and integration. Then Iran could get the same integration benefits that the GCC states already enjoy, and easily overcome the suffocating sanctions of the malevolent United States.
Viktor Mikhin, corresponding member of RANS, exclusively for the online journal “New Eastern Outlook.”
