Islam Times - What Do Experts Think about Prospects of Iranian-Saudi Security Cooperation?

Islam Times - While traditional approach of the US in the Persian Gulf has been sowing division between Iran and the Arab states and establishing its presence in this waterway under security excuses, the developments of the past few months have shown that the Arab monarchies are moving on a parallel path with the Washington's policies. After the Iranian-Saudi rapprochement deal last year with Chinese mediation, which marked an end to the diplomatic tensions between the two countries, now the conditions are ripe for security cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the Arab kingdom.

In this connection, the Chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces General Fayad al-Ruwaili met with his Iranian counterpart Major General Ali Bagheri during his trip to Tehran on Sunday.

"We believe that the cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries can increase given the many commonalities and capacities," General Bagheri said after receiving his Saudi counterpart.

Stressing on improving the level of cooperation in the defense fields and exchanging experiences in the training and training and exercises, the top Iranian general added: "We are interested in the participation of the Saudi navy in Iran's naval exercises next year with the presence of ships or as observers." Referring to the extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi Arabia, General Bagheri said that this meeting is an admirable step towards convergence of Islamic nations.

The two sides discussed mutual defense and military ties and deepening of relations and the Palestinian cause.

Thanking his hosting by the Iranian Armed Forces, the Saudi general underscored the need to improve relations in all areas between the armed forces of the two nations, adding: "The Beijing agreement is a good basis for improving bilateral cooperation, and we consider this agreement as a strategic opportunity. The Saudi military official also emphasized the importance of the two countries' role and influence in the convergence of Islamic countries and the region, and the continuation of political and defense relations between the two countries.

Saudi alignment with Iran-led Axis of Resistance

Given the fact that the visit by the top Saudi military officials is coming amid the escalating tensions in the region, it is examinable from various aspects. Jaafar Ghanadbashi, an Iranian expert of West Asia affairs, talked to Alwaght about the aims of the Saudi military official's visit, saying that "the visit of the chief of staff of the Saudi Armed Forces to Tehran is important given Iran's position in the Resistance front as well as the military developments in the region. Especially since Saudi Arabia has many concerns in the neighborhood of Yemen and since it is one of the world's oil suppliers, it is interested in resuming the policy of peaceful coexistence in the region, and after the agreement with Iran, it has tried to expand its relations in various fields with the Islamic Republic.

Escaping from the margins to the heart of the developments

Considering itself to be the leader of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia feels endangered from not having been influential in the past year of developments. Ghanadbashi held that one of the main drivers of Tehran visit is the insignificant role of Riyadh in recent regional developments.

"Saudi Arabia enjoys a special position among the countries of the Persian Gulf and due to the key role of the Axis of Resistance in the region, it is now on the sidelines of developments, while Qatar, despite its small size, plays an important role in the developments due to its relations with Hamas. Therefore, Saudi Arabia does not want to be on the sidelines in regional developments in which the Resistance camp takes a center stage and whose goal is to put an end to the adventures of the Israeli regime and the West in the region. The resistance groups are pushing to move the region to a stable condition free from the presence of big powers by operations against the Israeli regime, so that the countries of the region can take responsibility for their own security through collective cooperation," Ghanadbashi said.

Ghanadbashi added that the shift of polices of the kingdom along regional developments has to do with internal issues. He held that "the public opinion of Saudi Arabia does not want Riyadh to be on the wrong side of history in the current confrontation, because Saudi Arabia is known as a supporter of the Western presence in the region, and the Saudis are trying to change the image of their country as an ally of the West in the public opinion. The presence of a senior Saudi military official in Tehran is considered to be a sign of the expansion of relations between the two countries, as well as the reduction of the distance between Riyadh and the Axis of Resistance. Therefore, the development of relations with Iran can be considered an alignment with the countries of the region, which is considered positive from the point of view of public opinion.

It is noteworthy that in recent decades, the Arab monarchy aligned with the US policies and stood in the ranks of the West against Resistance camp in key regional cases like Syria, Yemen,and Lebanon. So, if the Saudi rulers seek constructive relations with Iran, they should show their good will and brotherhood. Indeed, Saudi Arabia needs to show a serious political determination if it wants to close ties to the Axis of Resistance and implement its agreements with Iran, since this will run counter to the US policy in the region.

The war in Gaza and the American military movements in the Red Sea were a wakeup call to the rulers of Riyadh, telling them that the main cause of insecurity in the region and endangering the security of international waterways, which is vital for the Saudis, is the hostile policies of Washington, and therefore it is necessary for the Saudis to reconsider their policies and choose the right path.

The Iranian expert added that Yemen is one of the important cases on agenda of Al-Ruwaili's visit to Tehran. He said that if Saudi Arabia and Iran engage in cooperation, they actually pave the way for de-escalation and therefore the Saudi concerns about borders with Yemen will be eased. Stronger Yemen means stronger Resistance camp. Iran had always sent a message of peace to neighbors in its military drills. So, Saudi general's visit to Tehran can be regarded a positive reaction to Iran's military actions and show of openness to political cooperation with the Israeli Republic in the region.

Since Yemen's Ansarullah Movement has the upper hand in the Red Sea with missile attacks on American and Israeli ships over the past year, the Saudis are trying to secure their oil export routes by ending the war in Yemen and striking a peace deal with Sana'a. The ten-year experience has shown that the continuation of the war in Yemen will not only not serve Saudi interests, but also may cause irreparable damage to Saudi economic interests, as in the attacks by Ansarullah on Aramco facilities in the past years, the Saudi oil giant suffered major damages.

Al-Ruwaili's visit within framework of Beijing agreement

Alwaght also talked to Kamram Karami, an expert of West Asian affairs, asking him about the aims of the Saudi general's visit. He maintained: "Al-Ruwaili's trip is part of the Beijing agreement, which was supposed to hold periodic meetings between the top officials of the two countries at the political and military levels. What is important about this trip and which led to different reactions is that in the current situation, the military cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh has become stronger and this issue can bring short and mid-term benefits for the two countries. In the short term, Saudi Arabia can use the capacity of Iran, which supports Ansarullah in the Red Sea, to control and manage the behavior of Yemenis. On the other hand, if Iran can convince Saudi Arabia to join a naval alliance and joint bilateral and multilateral military exercises, it will be significant for Tehran in the current situation."

Suggesting that business and security of waterways is a priority to Riyadh, Karami added: "The reality is that in the past years focusing on political and economic stability to advance its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia necessarily needs cooperation with Tehran, and since the restoration of diplomatic relations, we have seen that relations are moving forward based on a road map, still, the Iranian expectations from Saudi Arabia have not been met yet. But the cooperation is ongoing according to the agreement. Saudi Arabia aspires to secure the Red Sea since it has an important role in the country's economic vision. This is important to the Saudis, and they need the help of Iran to stop Ansarullah's operations. But it cannot be said with certainty if Ansarullah will stop its Red Sea operations after possible Tehran-Riyadh agreements."

Capacity for arms cooperation

Strengthening security cooperation between Iran and Arab countries is a step towards reducing tensions and increasing regional stability. The US has endangered the stability and security of this region with its powerful presence in the Persian Gulf in the past few decades, but now the Arab leaders have come to believe that the only thing they have gained from facilitating the American presence in the region is instability and insecurity.

Iran has always described the presence of foreign powers in the region as a cause of the escalation of crisis, asserting that protection of security of the Persian Gulf is a job of regional, not foreign, forces. This Iranian approach faced the fact that Arab monarchies find the US role in the region as vital to protection of their thrones.

Tehran has always welcomed takeover of regional security responsibility by the regional countries and seeks to sieze the opportunity created for Iran-Saudi Arabia convergence and make a bridge to military partnership.

As two heavyweights in the Persian Gulf, Iran and Saudi Arabia have a lot of military capacities, which can solve many security problems that have arisen in the last decade. Iran is one of the world giants in the production of missiles and drones and can transfer its technological achievements to Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia. In recent years, Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf monarchies have signed contracts to buy drones from Turkey and even the Israeli regime, and if the Arab states engage in deals with Iran, Tehran can provide its domestically-developed weapons to them at a lower cost.

In its war on terrorism in Syria and Iraq, Iran showed well it spares no efforts to help its neighbors and can provide its experiences to its allies without an expectations. This is true to the Arab monarchies and if they need help, Tehran will not refuse to offer it. Iran has always moved to de-escalate with Arab countries and has shown a good will and now everything lies with the Arab leaders to decide on cooperation to restore peace and security to the Persian Gulf.