FROM RIVALS TO RECONCILERS: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF IRAN-SAUDI CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Iran-Saudi rapprochement presents a unique case study where the erstwhile rivals, while still competing in the Middle East, have undergone a shift in their bilateral affairs. It is not to say that the issues between the two regional powers have been resolved or the apprehensions about each other have subsided; instead, what is astonishing, rather than pragmatic, on the part of both Iran and Saudi Arabia is the management of their disputes. For example, Saudi Arabia has stopped commenting on Iran’s nuclear and missile program, while Iran has prevented Houthis from attacking Saudi Arabia by utilising its influence over the armed group. Not only has the cessation of hostilities between these two states occurred, but the bilateral relations have also entered into a positive phase. For example, the restoration of diplomatic channels, resumption of Hajj pilgrimages and working together in OIC for the Palestinian cause reflect the upward trajectory in the bilateral relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. To understand this transformation, the paper will theoretically analyse the factors and features of the Iran-Saudi rapprochement. The paper would also explore the different perspectives of both Iran and Saudi Arabia to understand the motivations behind their rapprochement.

Bibliography Entry

Kazmi, Syeda Hudaisa, Syed Fraz Hussain Naqvi and Dr. Syed Qandil Abbas. 2025. "From Rivals to Reconcilers: A Critical Appraisal of Iran-Saudi Conflict Transformation." Strategic Thought (7):
117-132.