Saudi Arabia and Iran, two arch-rivals in the Middle Eastern region have been the torchbearers of both the Middle East and the Islamic World. Since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been at loggerheads against each other. Before the fall of the Shah of Iran, both these Middle Eastern countries were on the same side in the camp of the United States.
With the uprising of the revolution and after that the death of the Shah of Iran, things changed up. Iran tried to export its Islamic revolution to other parts of the Middle East. This initiative of Iran distorted Saudi Arabia’s resolve towards Iran. Since then both the nations are hardcore enemies fighting against each other on different platforms and forums like Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and also on the most sensitive issue the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks last week in April 2021. The talks were held in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi officials mediated between the two arch-rivals for the talks. Iraq has a Shiite leadership having good terms with Iran. The common cultural and religious aspects between Iraq and Saudi Arabia have also made them be on one page. This is where Iraq played its part and low-level talks took place in Baghdad.
The Yemen quagmire and JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Parties of Agreement) related Vienna Talks were made part of the meeting. These two main issues were discussed in the meeting. The six-year-long Yemen civil war is not near any end. The war is between Saudi backed government and Iran backed Houthi Rebels.
Iran provides weapons and ammunition to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthi rebels are severely against Saudi Arabia. These rebels have many times planned to conduct missile attacks in Saudi Arabia. The 2019 attack on Saudi Oil Facility is also being doubted as to be conducted from Yemen by Houthi rebels who are backed by Iran.
Saudi Arabia is a Sunni Muslim state. Whereas Iran is a Shiite Muslim state. Both these sects of Islam: Sunni and Shia, are rivals and poles apart in their point of view since the demise of The Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH). The rivalry has continued till now especially in the masses. In 2016, Saudi Arabia killed a Saudi Shiite Cleric Sheikh Baqir Al-Nimr. This created a furore in Iran.
The masses attacked Saudi Embassy in Iran. As a response to it, the Saudi government cut off all the diplomatic relations with Iran. The talks from last week have been a thaw in relations since last severed in 2016. The main purpose behind the talk was that Iran wanted Saudi Arabia to back them in the nuclear talks in Vienna where all the parties to the agreement including the USA are going to discuss the revival of the Iran Nuclear Deal and also plans to overcome the economic sanctions against Iran.
On the other hand, the Saudi government wants to control and mend affairs in Yemen where Houthi rebels are proving to be strong to handle. The Saudi government is afraid that Houthis will attack the royal palaces along with Holy Sites in Makkah and Medina.
Both sides have a common interest in having a table talk about their matters. There could not be any breakthrough in last week’s talks. There are plans to conduct talks again in the future. It could be as early as next week. Maybe in the last part of April or 1st week of May. Both sides want to overcome adverse relations which will not only be good for the region but the whole Muslim World.
In a crux, we can say that Saudi Arabia and Iran are the two most important pillars of the Islamic World. One represents the Sunni community and the other represents the Shiite sect. The adverse relations between these two Leading Muslim nations do not augur well for not only the middle east but the whole Muslim community.
Last week’s talks are an omen for the future. There are plans for another round of talks in the coming days. Muslim world leaders like Iraq, Pakistan, and Indonesia should play their part and make these rounds of talks a success which obviously will be a win-win situation for all.
As the Sunni-Shia divide has now been carried out in the whole Muslim world. Every Muslim country is divided between these two sects of Islam. The Islamic world crisis can be overcome with a fruitful second round of talks between Saudi and Iran.
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