The Heat: Iran-Saudi Arabia Relations

The Heat

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Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement. Could peace between these nations bring regional stability? 

Iran and Saudi Arabia took steps last month to restore diplomatic ties which some observers said was a big step for international security. On Tuesday, delegations from both countries started the process of re-opening their respective embassies. The two nations reconciled last month after China brokered an agreement to re-establish bilateral relations

Over the weekend, Iranian-backed Houthis and Saudi leaders gathered to discuss a peace proposal in Yemen, where they have been on opposite sides in a brutal civil war. The United Nations calls it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. There’s hope the deal reached between Saudi Arabia and Iran will lead to progress on ending the conflict in Yemen.

Joining the discussion: 

  • Salman Al-Ansari is a Saudi political researcher. 
  • Barbara Slavin is a Distinguished Fellow of Middle East & North Africa at the Stimson Center.
  • Trita Parsi is the Executive Vice President at the Quincy Institute. 
  • Ali Akbar Dareini is a researcher and writer at the Center for Strategic Studies in Tehran.