Maritime Alliance for Regional Security
In recent developments, Iranian media outlets have announced that Iran has extended an invitation to Saudi Arabia to join a joint naval alliance currently in the works. This alliance, which aims to safeguard the maritime security of Middle Eastern nations and ensure the safe passage of international navigation, will include Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia.
The proposed security arrangements are expected to rely primarily on the armed forces of the alliance’s member states, rather than external military alliances stationed in the region’s security sphere. Iran has been actively pursuing the establishment of a trilateral maritime alliance in collaboration with Russia and China. Against this backdrop, the invitation to Saudi Arabia comes as both regional powerhouses progress in restoring diplomatic relations through a rapport deal signed in Beijing.
The belief in the efficacy of collective efforts to protect the security and stability of the Middle East is a natural inclination for regional powers seeking to exert influence over regional matters. However, the success of such efforts hinges on the adherence to principles such as national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and good neighborliness. Equally important is the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and the resolution of long-standing disputes in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and signed settlement agreements.
Furthermore, member countries of the anticipated alliance must renounce any destructive projects that raise concerns and suspicions about their true intentions behind participating in collective security endeavors. Only when these conditions are met can the region’s countries embrace regional security arrangements.
The implementation of this equation and the new security arrangements on the ground faces obstacles due to the long-standing crisis of confidence among several countries within the envisioned alliance. This crisis has been exacerbated by positions and behaviors that undermine regional peace and security, further exacerbating tensions and disputes in the Middle East. This, in turn, has strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two influential regional powerhouses, making the crisis between them even more complex. However, signs of improvement have emerged as both countries have chosen to pursue confidence-building measures following the signing of the rapport deal, which led to the restoration of diplomatic ties.
Iran is acutely aware of the consequences of breaching the terms of the agreement it signed with Saudi Arabia under China’s patronage. Consequently, the Iranian supreme leader has ordered the cessation of any negative coverage, disparaging comments, and criticisms of the Kingdom by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Nevertheless, some negative Iranian media content concerning Saudi Arabia surfaced after the agreement, violating the principles of noninterference in internal affairs and the protection of sovereignty. The Iranian media corporation promptly removed this content upon realizing the potential impact it could have on the ongoing measures. However, in recent weeks, Iranian media outlets affiliated with the Iranian regime, such as Tasnim, Fars, and Mehr news agencies, have resumed their old rhetoric, publishing criticisms and insults aimed at the Kingdom.
The resumption of such criticisms does a disservice to the confidence-building measures and undermines Saudi Arabia’s efforts to address its concerns regarding Iran’s intentions and foreign relations orientation. This rhetoric may impede the Kingdom’s desire to establish partnerships and engage in future cooperation with Iran across various security and commercial domains.
Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with confidence-building measures, starting with the formal procedures to reestablish diplomatic relations. These measures include King Salman’s invitation to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit the Kingdom and the visit by the Saudi foreign minister to Tehran.
It is anticipated that the reopening of embassies will follow in the coming days. All these steps reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing relations and embracing a future filled with immense potential for mutual benefit.
To conclude, continued interference in the internal affairs of other countries, a practice prohibited not only by the deal signed in Beijing but also by all UN resolutions, contradicts the provisions of the agreement and the recent guidelines set by the Iranian supreme leader for Iranian foreign policy. Furthermore, former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has reiterated on Twitter that foreign policy is not a zero-sum game, suggesting that all parties can achieve gains and have their interests preserved, rather than serving the interests of a select few. The two countries have before them significant opportunities and joint interests that call for further steps to build and sustain confidence, rather than diminish it and complicate matters.
