Iran announced Sunday that it has resumed exports to Saudi Arabia in a sign of warming ties between the two countries.
Iran’s Customs Administration’s spokesman Roohollah Latifi said Saudi Arabia has “rejoined” the list of countries to which Iran exports. Latifi said exports to Saudi Arabia had “reached zero” in the last Iranian fiscal year, which ended on March 20, 2021.
Last week, Iran expressed its “readiness” to resume exports to Saudi Arabia if tensions were reduced. The two countries have held talks on and off since April, when Baghdad began brokering negotiations.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Riyadh was “serious” about talks with Iran to repair relations. Since 2016, the regional rivals have not had formal diplomatic relations.
US intervention in the region stokes the rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran. For example, when Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, he was scheduled to meet with Iraq’s former prime minister, who was facilitating indirect talks between Tehran and Riyadh.
Although the US is still deeply entrenched in the Middle East and is still backing the Saudis in Yemen, the Biden administration has taken steps to reduce its military footprint in the region, including removing Patriot anti-missile batteries from Saudi Arabia.
Israel and its lackey know how to sabotage any such rapprochement. And they will do it
Hide your generals Iran. Remember what happened last time. The US/Israel will not allow peace to break out.
It is clear that US needs the narrative on “supporting” Saudi Arabia in Yemen war. As the narrative is getting quite absurd, and there is no new one on the horizon — it is hard to accept analysis that does not question the narrative.
It stems from the “legitimacy issue”. Therefore, there is only one Yemen, and Hadi government is its representative. It is firmly under Saudi control. US cannot say otherwise — as saying it would legitimize Houthis demand for the re-establishment of former North Yemen. And leave South up for grabs,
What US really wants is — South under its (or British) control, and blockade of North via naval blockade of Hodeidah port. Why? US wants control of both sides of the 25 mile narrow Bab Al Mandeb Straits. US already has bases at Djibouti. And again, why? Control of the Straits would give US unparalleled control over Saudi, Sudanese and Egyptian trade with Asia.
Saudi Arabia lives of oil trade to China. Saudis are already under threat by blockage in Straits of Hormuz.
This is a military stalemate. Face off around Mareb will eventually have to be solved politically. Southern secessionists are in a wait and see mode. US use of UAE to control South has frayed.
Saudi pretense of being helped by US is fallung apart. Cutting deal with Iran would at least assure Saudi shipping through Straits of Hormuz, even if Oman falls pray to US/UK pressure.
Clearly no longer relying on US to come up with a compromise — Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined Russia-China led SCO this past summer. Sudan is having US supported civilian transition challenged. No coincidence— Saudi Arabia and Egypt have given up on US to ever resolve the issue by giving Red Sea littoral states assurances that it would not weaponize Straits.
By getting out of US geopolitical interest zone, Yemen issue has just been internationalized.
US withdrawing defenses from Saudi Arabia is a barely concealed rage over Saudi reconciliation with Iran. And joining SCO.
What is next? More pressure on Oman to get political deals with several southern regions, get the control of Straits, and call it a day. Let the rest fall to pieces for Saudis to waste resources on. If that does not work — back to using irregulars, like AQIAP, other mercenaries. Control islands?
What can Saudis do? With change in geopolitical orbit — it can give South an alternative. Their inly alternative was — US control or Saudi control. With Saudi-Iran relations improved, Saudis are dropping narrative of Iran boogie man in North Yemen, and with SCO association — getting South some incentives to work with Saudis. Getting China trade and China-Russia security balance, might allow them to reach deal with Houthis, and separate the country. Saudis can now offer regional stability independently from US by other powers being able to weigh in.
It will be interesting.
Israel will be isolated again. That is its own fault.