Iran has been portrayed as a fake threat to Saudi Arabia
Negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, mediated by Iraq, continue with ups and downs. Regarding the roots of the Iran-Saudi dispute, ways to resolve the dispute, the progress of the talks, as well as the issues discussed behind the negotiating table, “Mojtaba Amani” We spoke with the former head of the Office for the Protection of the Interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Cairo.
IRNA: The issue of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations has been raised for some time and it is said that good and positive steps have been taken; What is the current state of these relations and how is it going?
Security: Regarding the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, we can say that we have witnessed a ups and downs curve since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution. Sometimes we faced extreme hostility and hostile statements from the Saudis, and sometimes they tried to establish friendly relations with us. The role of the president was important in this regard, as was the role of the Saudi leaders. That is, the influence of the characters in this regard is considered important.
It was clear that from the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, the Saudis intended to be hostile to the Islamic Revolution. Their provocations in the region, both for Saddam and his invasion of Iran and to help him, and for American provocations aimed at military and practical action against us, are signs of this. Also, at times, they decided to open a new page in relation to Iran, and in a way, the relations between the two countries have seriously improved. On the other hand, Iran has always witnessed that any cooperation and improvement of relations between the two countries has been officially welcomed.
After the Saudis invaded Yemen, the Islamic Republic initially tried to warn them of the dangers of this move through advice and advice, but they did not accept these benevolent recommendations and continue to insist on continuing the invasion of Yemen. The inhumane actions of the Saudis in Yemen are not something that Iran can ignore.
The Saudis, on the other hand, accuse Iran of meddling in Yemen and somehow justify their right to take any action against Yemen in the context of Arab relations. In the recent period, after it became clear that the Saudis in Yemen had reached a dead end and the consequences of relations that were sometimes made with the Saudis, even at the height of hostilities, Iraq arranged meetings between the Iranians and the Saudis because of the benefits it felt. He said that he might be able to bring the two countries closer together.
IRNA: So this mediation happened at the request of Iraq?
Security: Was the common desire of the three countries; All three countries have interests in this area. Iran welcomes being able to reduce hostilities in the region. The Saudis feel the need to improve these relations somewhat. Of course, under the influence of regional events. Iraq, as an Arab country, has always been under pressure from the Saudis, so I think the Iraqis tried to reduce Saudi pressure on them by bringing the Iranians and the Saudis closer.
However, the feeling of mutual need between Iran and Saudi Arabia to establish a relationship and the impossibility of ignoring the role of the other country in the region has caused both to try to get closer at times; However, Iran’s permanent policy in the region has been to extend friendship and cooperation to various countries.
Iran’s effort is to provide security with the cooperation of countries in the region
IRNA: In the current situation, what are the factors that led to this cooperation?
Security: The first issue that forces Saudi Arabia to establish relations with Iran is Iran’s influence in the region. Saudi Arabia knows that the axis of resistance has been formed; He knows that the countries of the region, due to their neighborhood, power, influence, civilization, history and power, have to have a good relationship with Iran, and Saudi Arabia is trying to either reduce the regional power of Iran or prevent its negative consequences for itself. Thus, despite the involvement of personal, cross-sectional factors and false hopes for the intervention of other countries such as the United States or frustration with their intervention, the Saudis always changed their attitude towards Iran. These cases made them not ignore Iran.
Iran also needs the security of the Persian Gulf region and knows that in the event of tensions between the countries of the region, there will be an excuse for the great powers to intervene in the region. Therefore, in this context, it tries to reduce this fear of Iran in the region and to ensure the security of the region with the cooperation of the countries of the region, not with the intervention and presence of other countries.
It was clear that the Saudis were looking to cut ties with us. In the region, they encourage all Arab and non-Arab countries to reduce ties with Iran; They even use the money factor in this regard.
IRNA: Iran-Saudi Arabia relations have been severed three times so far. Was it the real reason for the incidents that caused the disconnection or other factors were involved?
Security: These were not the main reasons, but at a time when hostilities between countries are escalating and becoming extremely fragile, a small incident may become an important development. It was clear that the Saudis were looking to cut ties with us. In the region, they encourage all Arab and non-Arab countries to reduce ties with Iran; They even use the money factor in this regard; For example, it was important for the Saudis to encourage Djibouti and Sudan to sever ties with Iran and pay the price in this regard.
The Saudis had the same policy towards Egypt after the Arab revolutions and the fall of Morsi, and the incitement of the Saudis in Egypt to sever or reduce relations between Tehran and Cairo, as well as their strong concern about the closeness of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi to Iran, was clear.
Among the 22 Arab countries, the problem we see is that some of these countries claim that the Arab countries are a single entity and that the political, regional and international actions of each Arab country must take place under the command of this integrated entity and a collective agreement. This has never been possible in practice, but it is always the countries that claim to be the leaders of the Arab world to take any unilateral action by Arab countries on regional issues, or even issues that may be about that country’s relationship with Iran or any other country. Are seen as jeopardizing the interests of the Arab world.
Intensified concerns of the Persian Gulf countries in the shadow of territorial disputes with each other
IRNA: The former Qatari foreign minister recently said that Iran-US relations will be established sooner or later and that it would be better for Arab countries to enter into talks on this issue. Can the Emirati official’s trip to Iran and the fact that Bin Salman started his periodic travels to the Persian Gulf countries be related?
Security: Small countries in the Persian Gulf are worried that they will be swallowed up by the big countries in the region. This concern has existed in Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Some countries, for various reasons, are either unaware of this threat or are among the countries that may have the power to swallow other countries in the region, and this is mostly due to Saudi Arabia and the ambitions of its leaders.
Each of these countries had different approaches after experiencing the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait; This has raised concerns in six Gulf states that have deep territorial disputes. Qatar is threatened by the Saudis; Bahrain from Qatar; UAE with Oman; Oman has territorial disputes with Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait has experience of Iraqi occupation. They used various methods to avert the threat. A common approach is to allow the United States to establish military bases.
Of course, the existence of these bases in these countries has now become a problem; Because they know that in the event of any conflict between Iran and the United States, these bases are a target for Iran, and in practice, instead of providing security for them, American bases are a security threat to them.
Countries in the region know that in the event of any conflict between Iran and the United States, its bases in the region are a target for Iran, and in practice, instead of providing security for them, they are a security threat.IRNA: It is said that the cold relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia are one of the reasons that lead Riyadh towards relations with Tehran; On the other hand, it is said that this coldness provides a kind of ransom for the United States to take from Saudi Arabia. What is the current state of relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States?
Security: I think the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States has always been a fragile one, but regional circumstances have made the two countries pretend to have good relations with each other. There are various problems between the United States and Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi Arabia is the main culprit in the events of 9/11. The United States has tried to ignore this, but it has always served as a spark to destroy friendship and enmity between them.
In any case, Saudi Arabia is an Arab country, and Washington views its relationship with Riyadh as part of the general American policy of strengthening Zionist values. Although these countries want to pretend that they have no enmity with the Zionist regime, the influential circles in American decisions, especially in the security and military spheres, do not believe this claim. Hatred of the Zionist regime in the Arab and Islamic countries is an indelible hatred. Although there are many policies to reduce this hatred, but in any case this has not happened.
IRNA: Were the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia at the security level? What is the reason and why was it not at the political level?
Security: In my opinion, the most important issue for Saudi Arabia is the issue of security in the region. From the beginning of the revolution, Saudi Arabia mistakenly thought that the Islamic Revolution was a threat to them, if they were good analysts in Saudi Arabia, they could have made wise decisions by putting aside the excitement and slogans that were given at the beginning of the revolution.
Inspired by the message of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which was a humane message in the region, the Saudis and other countries in the region could use this message to improve governance practices. Unfortunately, instead of using this message, they coordinated with the United States and the Zionists to overthrow the Islamic Republic, exacerbating concerns in their own country, and with the financial support of rich Arab countries and the stupidity of Saddam, who claimed to lead the Arab world. They launched a campaign against us.
Realism and behavior change, Riyadh’s path to avoid material and spiritual costs
IRNA: That is, if from the beginning of the revolution it was interpreted that there was no threat, the Americans would not be able to open their feet in the region so that they would not buy so many weapons?
Security: Certainly, if they had extended a hand of friendship to the Islamic Revolution of Iran and had not resorted to Iran’s enemies to ensure their security, they would not have felt any security threat now. For example, you can see a clear example of this in the case of Kuwait. Provided the highest aid to Saddam; Imam (ra) wished good for Kuwait and in a clear word to the leaders of this country, reminded them to be careful of this dangerous animal that if it gains power, it will occupy your country.
Kuwait now rules the same family and has almost good relations with Iran; or even the UAE. Of course, the UAE made a mistake in following the severance of ties with Saudi Arabia, but in any case, it has its own economic relations, and in recent weeks, attempts have been made to travel and make telephone calls between these countries and try to pay the Saudis. To separate.
If the Saudis are realistic, not only will they not feel a security threat from Iran, but they will not incur many additional costs by cooperating with Iran. These costs are not only in the material part but also in the spiritual part.Unfortunately, the Saudis are prejudiced against these movements, and in their opinion, no Arab country has the right to establish relations with Iran except with the consent of the Saudis. Iraq has had very good relations with Iran since the war and the fall of Saddam, and there is no security threat between the two countries. Iran-Iraq relations have been so good that the Saudis are protesting and considering it against themselves; This is also a misconception that can lead to other errors.
In my opinion, if the Saudis are realistic, not only will they not feel a security threat from Iran, but they will not incur many additional costs by cooperating with Iran. These costs are not only in the material sector, but also in the spiritual sector in the region, because Saudi Arabia can have a very high position in the Arab world spiritually.
Saudi Arabia is a destination for millions of Muslims every year, and we can see many good messages from Riyadh; It has now become a country whose demands, actions and desires are not popular even in many Arab countries; Although we seem to see a good relationship between them, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia; Saudi Arabia and Oman or Saudi Arabia and Qatar. But again, this kind of misbehavior in the region can lead to a good atmosphere by changing the type of behavior of the Saudis in the region, so that countries in the region can cooperate and coexist peacefully without paying extra costs and threatening other countries.
Naturally, in this case, the presence of American bases in the region is not necessary, and the United States and the Zionists are trying to keep the enmity between the countries of the region burning, and a fake threat from Iran has created “enmity” for Saudi Arabia.
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