game changer

Iran – Saudi Arabia: How the new deal will change everything

By Rym Bousmid

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Posted on April 26, 2023 09:30

© Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China’s political bureau, flanked by Musaid al-Aiban (L), Saudi Minister of State and National Security Advisor, and Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), in Beijing, March 10, 2023. Luo Xiaoguang/Xinhua via AFP — Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China’s political bureau, flanked by Musaid al-Aiban (L), Saudi Minister of State and National Security Advisor, and Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), in Beijing, March 10, 2023. Luo Xiaoguang/Xinhua via AFP

Foreign policy of Morocco, influence of the United States, past alliances of Israel… The restoration of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran is reshuffling the cards in the Middle East and beyond.

Putting an end to years of proxy warfare, Riyadh and Tehran restored their diplomatic relations on 10 March in Beijing. The secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the regime’s third-in-command, Ali Shamkhani, shook hands with the Saudi minister of state and security advisor, Musaid al-Aiban, thus sealing the deal.

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