A year on from Iran-Saudi thaw, little to show beyond photo ops
Despite the detente, the two sides appear to have adopted few tangible measures to narrow their long-standing differences over regional influence, while their covert divergence on the Gaza war has only added to the complications of their fragile rapprochement.
Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, discussed the Gaza war in a phone conversation on Friday with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Amir-Abdollahian called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, with the aim of putting an end to the Israeli attacks on the besieged territory.
According to a readout published by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Amir-Abdollahian underlined the need to avert an Israeli-planned offensive against the Gaza town of Rafah and expressed concern over the unfolding humanitarian situation there. The report cited criticism by the Saudi foreign minister against the Israeli government's refusal to heed international demands for a cease-fire.
The conversation was a part of Iran's regional campaign to pressure Israel and advance its pro-Palestinian agenda. Yet, more importantly, it was the latest in a diplomatic reopening project between the two after they clinched an agreement last March to resume ties following a seven-year hiatus. The deal was mediated by China, which used friendly ties with both Riyadh and Tehran to emerge as a leading regional broker.
Gaps that have yet to be bridged
