In a rare interview, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said his country is not opposed to talks with Iran to discuss ways the two regional powers could co-operate in the interests of peace. That marks a change in tone compared to Prince Mohammed’s previous interviews, in which he lashed out at Tehran, accusing it of fuelling regional insecurity.
The initiative comes at a time of shifting power dynamics. In the Biden era, negotiation is normative and essential again. The new U.S. administration is building up to the resumption, or recreation, of Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.
Ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, ties between Tehran and Riyadh have been increasingly strained, affecting sectarian relations across the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia and Iran have backed opposite sides of several regional conflicts. As the Crown Prince noted, these groups present the primary roadblock to progress in bilateral relations.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have also been holding talks, facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister, in Baghdad in recent weeks. Though the talks in Iraq do not constitute a major breakthrough, they do prove that if both sides wish, engagement is possible.
Crown Prince Mohammed’s latest interview summarised the many ways Saudi Arabia is changing at home and abroad, with a clear strategic vision. Riyadh wants better ties with Tehran, but only if it is built on a genuine effort to curtail its militant and aggressive activities.
Saudi Arabia is quite keen to extricate itself from the Yemen crisis, where it has failed to dislodge the Iran-allied Houthis. Iranian leaders must realise the limits of a diplomatic model built on aggression. If Riyadh and Tehran persist, they can succeed in establishing cordial relations and putting the hostility of the past behind them.
