Saudi Arabia mediates between Trump and Iran for new atomic deals

Saudi Arabia mediates between Trump and Iran for new atomic deals

Saudi Arabia is ready to convey between the Trump administration and Iran to achieve a new agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program, as CNN reported. The kingdom is concerned that Iran could be rather inclined to develop an atomic bomb after its regional deputies, who have long been considered a deterrent against Israeli attacks, are significantly weakened. Saudi Arabia hopes to use his close relationships with President Donald Trump to offer the Iran a diplomatic bridge to the White House.

Saudi Arabia's strategic goals

It is unclear whether Saudi Arabia has made a formal offer, but this step underlines Riad’s wish, on the to build up improved relationships to his former enemy and to secure a place at the negotiating table for a potential new agreement. While Trump signaled that he wanted to have talks about a new agreement, the answer from Tehran was mixed. The top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said last week that talks with the United States were "not clever".

The reaction of the USA and Iran

The US State Department and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to the inquiries from CNN. The Iranian representation at the United Nations in New York also did not allow any statement that can be announced. Saudi Arabia had publicly welcomed the nuclear agreement from 2015, but was privately upgraded that the Obama administration had not approached its concerns about Tehran's regional activities-in particular the rocket program and the groups of deputy. After Trump's withdrawal from the Agreement in 2018, this position was covered.

changes in regional dynamics

A year after Trump's withdrawal, Saudi Arabia's oil industry suffered a serious drone and rocket attack, which at times halved the crude oil production of the world's largest oil exporter. The Houthi rebels from Yemen supported by Iran took responsibility, while the United States blamed Iran for this, but this did not lead to military measures. Since then, the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have significantly reduced. In March 2023, the two countries surprisingly announced that they would normalize their relationships in a agreement mediated by China.

Saudi Arabia's vision for the future

Saudi's official view this agreement as a great success and believe that Riad benefited from it. Attacks by the Houthis on Saudi territory have failed, and the kingdom was largely spared from the mutual attacks between Israel and Iran last year. In the past 15 months, Israel has attacked significantly weakened groups in Lebanon and Gaza as well as destinations in Syria, Iraq and to Yemen. Iran's ability to influence its limits are significantly weakened by these developments.

The role of Saudi Arabia in international diplomacy

Saudi Arabia sees the current regional climate as a historical opportunity to de-escalation the tensions with Iran and to improve relationships. Saudi Arabia does not want to participate in a conflict between the United States and Iran, as the kingdom fears that an Iran, who was crowded into the corner, could be more willing to develop an atomic bomb. You consider a new nuclear deal as a measure to prevent this and to maintain your own economic interests.

Trump’s attitude to Iran

Since his re -election, Trump has signaled that he would like a new agreement with Iran. Despite the reluctant tightening of the sanctions, Trump stated that he would prefer a verified peace agreement with Iran to enable this country to grow peace. "I want Iran to become a great and successful country, but without nuclear weapons," said Trump on social media.

Iran and the expectations of negotiations

Iran's economy suffers from the US sanctions, and President Masoud Pezeshkian is under pressure to find solutions to the problems of the population. Despite mixed signals from Tehran, Pezeshkian and other Iranian officials have offered to negotiate a new agreement. Khamei, on the other hand, expressed distrust of the US administration and found that conversations were not an intelligent decision. However, this could not completely rule out the willingness to communicate.

The future role of Saudi Arabia

Firas Maksad, an expert at the Middle East Institute, emphasized that Saudi Arabia's foreign policy was shaped by a strategic partnership with the United States, but at the same time aimed at diversification of the options. Saudi Arabia thus signals a distant attitude towards Trump's maximum pressure on Tehran, even if the lack of trust between the two countries makes real mediation rather unlikely.

The relationships with Trump remain strongly recognizable, but Trump's controversial plans for the annexation of Gazas and to clear the Palestinian population could endanger the normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Despite these complications, Saudi Arabia's influence remains stable with growing international presence.