Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (right) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban (left) on March 11 in the presence of China's top diplomat Wang Yi (Photo: Xinhua).
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of escalating tensions, the AP reported. The major diplomatic breakthrough brokered by China is seen as reducing the possibility of armed conflict between the two arch-rivals in the Middle East.
According to AP, this development is also considered a diplomatic achievement of China in the Middle East, helping Beijing increase its position in this region, in the context of the influence of the US has shown signs of decline in recent times. This move comes in the context of diplomats trying to end the civil war in Yemen when Iran and Saudi Arabia each support a side in the conflict.
China said it will continue to play a constructive role in properly handling hot issues in the world, in line with the wishes of all countries and demonstrating the responsibility of a major country.
The joint statement called for a reset of relations and the reopening of embassies between the two Middle Eastern rivals for a maximum of two months. The two sides also plan to hold a meeting of their foreign ministers. China said both sides showed sincerity and Beijing fully supported this.
The United Nations welcomed the development and appreciated China's role. "Good neighborly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are essential for the stability of the Gulf," said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US also welcomes "any effort to help end the war in Yemen and reduce tensions in the Middle East region".
Yemen is in the midst of a civil war between pro-Iran Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia-backed government forces. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have been rivals for years, with both countries wielding significant influence in the region. Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters in Tehran stormed Riyadh’s diplomatic compound in Iran. Days earlier, Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric along with 46 others, a development that sparked protests in Iran seven years ago.
Religion plays a key role in the relationship between the two countries. Although both are Muslim, Saudi Arabia is Sunni and Iran is Shiite. In addition to Yemen, the two countries also compete for interests in a number of other countries, such as Lebanon and Iraq.
Earlier, the United Arab Emirates reached a similar agreement with Iran. These developments show that Muslim countries in the region tend to come closer together.
Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (USA), commented that the resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia through the intermediary of China is detrimental to US interests in the region.
However, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "I would firmly reject the notion that we are backing down in the Middle East - far from it."
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