Peace initiatives in Middle East without the U.S.

 IRAN/SAUDI ARABIA RECONCILIATION A BIG HOPE FOR PEACE

IT COULD USHER IN NEW ERA IN REGION

It has been reported that Iran and Saudi Arabia have reestablished diplomatic relations, something that has been curtailed for 7 years. While it is very early to know what the end result is, it is very likely that Iranian support for the rebels in Yemen has been discussed. The negotiations were conducted by China as the mediator. 

Iran has been a disruptor in the middle east ever since the Islamic fundamentalist revolution in 1979. It has been active in hoping to spread fundamentalism across the region and has supported revolutionaries and terrorists in the middle east and Africa. Iran is a Shia Muslim country and Saudi Arabia is a Sunni Muslim country. Historically these factions have co-existed in the past, and this move may signal a lessening of tensions in the region.

At one time, Saudi Arabia was the leading supporter of terrorism worldwide, while not necessarily the government, but wealthy members of the country. Much of that action has been curtailed since the new leader Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud took over in 2020. He froze assets and arrested some of the royal family and demanded an end to support of foreign meddling.  There has been a marked decrease in worldwide terrorism. He has also been instrumental in supporting the Abraham accords while not actually a member at this time. He may believe that better relations with Iran are more important at this time than alienating Iran over this question. Better relations with Iran could have a strong influence overall in the region.

This new development and the initiatives by Turkey to plan to remove its troops from Syria and negotiate some kind of peace with Syria are very important developments in this region. There is also growing pressure for the United States to stop its campign of regime change in Syria and remove it troops from that country. There have been ongoing talks between Syria, Russia, Turkey, China, Iran, the EU and other regional governments in Kazakhstan since 2017. They are in the process of developing a constitution and elections for the future of Syria.

There is no coincidence that all these countries in the region are considering being part of the BRICS economic group that is moving to create an economic system independent of western control.  It seems there is a growing movement focusing on economic benefits to the region, rather ideological division.

While this will be alarming to some, it may replace 30 years of war with mutual beneficial economic cooperation.