Saudi-Iranian understanding key to nuclear deal's success
The nuclear deal should be a prelude to major coordination between Saudi Arabia and Iran if it is to help bring about peace in the region.
Iran's July 14 signing of a nuclear treaty has reduced the historic strain between Iran and the West, but it cannot be expected to foster peace without broad consideration of other players in the region, particularly the Sunni Arab axis.
The peace process largely hinges on whether Iran chooses to preserve its unilateral policy in the region or communicate with other regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to reach a comprehensive solution to the region’s crises.
Based on that, it is important to understand how Iran's rivals might perceive and react to the nuclear deal.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir traveled to the United States on July 17 to meet with US President Barack Obama to express Saudi Arabia’s concerns. Moreover, Saudi newspapers, such as al-Watan, al-Madina and al-Sharq al-Awsat, said the deal poses a great challenge to Saudi Arabia, which prompted members of the Saudi Consultative Assembly to call for development of “a nuclear program similar to that of Iran.”
