China backs Riyadh-Teheran talks follow-up, president says; experts hail wider Mideast outlook

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi (center) attends the closing event of the Beijing dialogue on March 10, flanked by Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban (left), Saudi national security adviser, and Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. (WANG JING / CHINA DAILY)

President Xi Jinping has pledged China’s support for further improvement of Saudi Arabia-Iran relations, voicing hope that the two Middle Eastern countries could build on their recent landmark dialogue in Beijing.

Xi made the remarks while holding talks by phone on March 28 with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

After days of talks in Beijing, Saudi Arabia and Iran issued a joint statement on March 10 saying that the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months.

Following the dialogue, the Middle East has seen a growing trend of seeking reconciliation, with relations improving between Saudi Arabia and Syria, Israel and some Arab states, and Iran and some other Gulf region countries, observers noted.

In the March 28 phone conversation, Xi noted that the Beijing dialogue and its major outcomes are conducive to the improvement of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, “had a significant exemplary effect on enhancing the unity and cooperation of countries in the region and easing tension in the region”, and were broadly praised by the international community.

The recent increase in the momentum of de-escalation among the countries in the region “fully demonstrates that resolving conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation is in line with the hearts of the people, the trend of the times and the interests of all countries”, he said.

Xi voiced his hope that Saudi Arabia and Iran will “uphold the spirit of good neighborliness and continue to improve relations on the basis of the results of the Beijing dialogue”, adding that China is ready to continue to support the follow-up process of the Saudi-Iranian dialogue.

Speaking of Sino-Saudi ties, Xi said that the relationship is in the best shape of all time.

China is willing to continue to work with Saudi Arabia to “firmly support each other on issues related to core interests of one another” and expand practical cooperation and cultural exchanges, Xi said.

The Saudi crown prince conveyed Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s greetings to Xi and congratulations on Xi’s election as Chinese president.

China is an important partner of Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that Riyadh is willing to work with Beijing to usher in new prospects for bilateral cooperation.

He said Riyadh sincerely appreciates Beijing’s strong support for improving relations with Iran, which demonstrates China’s role as a responsible major country.

China is playing an increasingly pivotal and constructive role in regional and international affairs, which is highly commendable, the Saudi crown prince added. 

Middle East experts hailed China’s support for consolidating the Riyadh-Teheran detente, saying it offers an opportunity for Iran and Gulf countries to renew ties and work together on transnational issues from security to climate change.

Mohammad Alzghoul, head of the Iranian Research Unit at the Emirates Policy Center, or EPC, a UAE-based think tank, said revival of relations between large Middle East powers Saudi Arabia and Iran is a “positive development” that hints at long-term reconciliation.

It creates a favorable environment for resolving issues and promoting mutual growth, as well as raising the possibility of improved relations between Iran and the countries of the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, he said. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar.

Iran had benefited in the past from trade relations with some Gulf Arab states, but those relations were stalled since 2016, said Aisha Al-Sarihi, a research fellow at the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore.

The recent breakthrough will not only open avenues for exchanges between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but also the wider GCC region, she said.

In 2016, Saudi Arabia and Iran severed ties after Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, sparked widespread demonstrations targeting Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran’s capital, Teheran. 

Bahrain, Qatar and Sudan followed Saudi Arabia’s lead and cut ties, while the UAE and Kuwait downgraded diplomatic representations. 

Ali Khansari, an international affairs analyst and graduate of regional studies at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Teheran, said Saudi Arabia has always had a “significant influence” on its GCC peers. While they may not always agree with Riyadh, they would “usually coordinate with Saudi Arabia” on their foreign policy toward Iran, he said.

Alzghoul, from the EPC, noted that the UAE has taken steps toward reconciliation with traditional rivals — including Israel, Turkiye, Iran, and Syria — in recent years, while also withdrawing from the ongoing Yemen conflict.

“The UAE leadership recognizes that geopolitical conflicts are zero-sum games, whereas geo-economic competition can result in many ‘winners’, making it a healthier alternative for the region,” said Alzghoul.

A communique issued at the end of the 155th session of the GCC Ministerial Council on March 22 in Riyadh hailed the China-mediated Saudi-Iran agreement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on March 23 welcomed the GCC support for the detente.

Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs to the Iranian president, tweeted on March 19 that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited to visit Riyadh. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have agreed to meet soon.

Contacts between Saudi Arabia and Syria have also gathered momentum following the agreement.

Mohammad Salami, an associate researcher at the International Institute for Global Strategic Analysis, or IIGSA, said the Saudi detente will definitely strengthen relations between Iran and its Gulf neighbors.

However, despite obvious progress, challenges remain for Iran and GCC countries, said Salami, citing issues such as those related to Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, which he deems unlikely to get resolved easily.

The challenge for Iran and the GCC countries stems from different ideological viewpoints, he said, noting that “Iran seeks to change the status quo and is strongly anti-American, (while) the Arabs seek to maintain the status quo and are conservative”. 

Henelito Sevilla Jr, a West Asia expert and dean of the Asian Center at the University of the Philippines, said Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with Iran signals an opportunity for other GCC members to consider collaborating with Iran.

“The pre-rapprochement initiative … suggests that in the presence of a highly politicized region and conflicting national interests between parties, confidence building, diplomacy and negotiation are still the best alternatives to confrontation and war,” he said.

Qatar — which faced diplomatic isolation from 2017 until 2021 after its neighbors accused it of supporting terrorism — restored full diplomatic relations with Iran in 2017, while Oman has maintained a neutral stance but condemned the violence. In August, the UAE and Kuwait named their first ambassadors to Iran in six years. 

On March 16, Ali Shamkhani, head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, visited the UAE to meet with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two countries, according to UAE news agency WAM. 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said that Teheran was also seeking to restore ties with Bahrain.

Sevilla, from the University of the Philippines, said making peace with Iran is crucial to achieving relative peace in the region.

He added that the Arab countries in the GCC no longer see their future solely in terms of strategic relations with the US but also with China. Hence, the successful conclusion of Saudi-Iran rapprochement, facilitated by Beijing, suggests “an attempt to diversify their strategic and foreign policy options toward China”, he said. 

The acceptance of Beijing’s help was indicative of a diminishing reliance on the US role in determining the future direction of Saudi-Iran relations after years of bitterness, Sevila added. 

Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that key countries’ critical roles in mediation and peacemaking “should not be ignored”.

“Beijing’s role as a key mediator has shored up hope among more Middle East countries that they could also find a way out from complicated issues through peaceful means — through negotiations,” she said.

Some countries in the region are thawing the ice between them on various fronts — not just in diplomacy and politics, but also regarding security and economy, she said.

“There are some common pursuits and interests among these countries that gave rise to their more constructive engagement with each other. One common ground is that although some deep-seated problems cannot be wiped out overnight, the nations all need enabling circumstances for their own development,” she said.

The shrinking strategic presence of the United States in the region has also improved the chances for peace, she added.

Contact the reporters at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn