The need for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran

The need for the resumption of official relations between Tehran and Riyadh does not directly concern Iran and Saudi Arabia only, but are essential for Iraq and Yemen as the closest states affected by the rivalry between the two countries but also regional stability and the US commitment in the area to promote peace in the area and its worldwide repercussions. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been formally severed for five years, but this was only the culmination of a long-term rivalry, due to religious reasons, in the context of the difficult relationship between Sunnis and Shiites, which has had consequences. moreover inevitable, on the political and geostrategic level. The current American presidency represented a reversal of the trend compared to the previous one, strongly skewed in favor of the Saudis: Biden prefers an attitude, in practice, more equidistant, even if officially it must be closer to Riyadh. In any case, the changed attitude of the White House, especially regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, has determined for Saudi Arabia the need for a relationship with Iran regulated by normal international relations. Moreover, although very cautious, the statements coming from Saudi diplomatic circles underlined the importance of the predisposition of the Islamic Republic of Iran to dialogue with the Saudi Kingdom in order to maintain peace between the two countries and the stability of the region. Riyadh seems to realize that if the Iranian nuclear deal returns to be in force, Saudi Arabia, already deprived of its privileged relationship with Trump, can no longer ignore the importance of diplomatic relations with Tehran. Certainly the diplomatic relationship will have to be built up and in the best of cases, it could be a sort of truce between two enemies, who have an opposite vision of their respective regional role, however both countries are aware that a well-defined bilateral relationship within the custom of international law, it represents the essential starting point for a peaceful coexistence, which becomes more and more indispensable; this despite the fact that there are forces in both countries that are working for a negative outcome, with the aim of strengthening the more traditionalist sectors, in foreign policy, of the two countries. Beyond the bilateral relations that strictly concern the two states, the official resumption of contacts can and must have consequences, hopefully positive, on third countries such as Yemen and Iraq. The Yemeni state is experiencing a conflict which has been ongoing since 2015 and which has caused one of the most serious humanitarian crises; the rebel militias are of Shiite religion and, therefore, ideologically close to Tehran, despite not having advanced armament, the Saudi army, while benefiting from more advanced equipment, was unable to achieve victory: this situation, placed in the dualism between Saudis and Iranians, it was experienced internally, but not publicly, in Riyadh as a sort of defeat against Iran, albeit indirectly; for this reason Saudi Arabia needs to get out of this conflict without compromising its international position and a negotiation to re-establish relations with the Iranian country could also contain issues relating to these aspects. Iraq also represents a central point in the relationship between the two states, the Iraqi nation is made up of Sunnis, who are in the majority and are linked to Riyadh and Shiites, a minority in power close to Tehran. Religious difference has produced profound contrasts which have duplicated themselves in political relations; Iraq has gone through very complicated periods after the fall of Saddam Hussein and the advance of the Islamic State and tries to reach a complicated balance to face an internal peace process, which needs to be sponsored by Saudi Arabia and Iran under conditions of agreement reciprocal, as well as the United States. As can be seen, the need for the resumption of a diplomatic relationship between the two main Islamic countries is essential for the balance that goes beyond the specific bilateral relationship, but affects regional structures; in this context, the main obstacle could still be the resumption of the Iranian nuclear agreement, however, a stop of the uranium enrichment processes by Tehran should also be convenient for Riyadh, for this purpose the role of the USA, Europe , China and Russia can only be decisive if these powers want to look at the overall interest rather than the one functional to single party interests: an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is certainly an opportunity to be exploited for the whole world.