I recently returned from a conference in Saudi Arabia. I hope to regain some understanding of their views on the Iranian threat and their views on the damaged relationship with the United States. My discussions extended to briefings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomats, counter-terrorism experts, the President of National Security, and the Rasana International Institute for Iranian Studies.
For many in America, Saudi Arabia’s image has been redone by 9/11, the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the murder of Khashoggi, and the recent refusal of President Joe Biden’s demands to pump out more oil before the midterm elections. I was irresistibly hurt. As Senator Bernie Sanders told ABC News, “I don’t think we should maintain a warm relationship with such a dictatorship.”
Saudis, on the other hand, believe that America does not realize how much of a threat Iran poses to Saudi Arabia. sees the country in the supreme leader’s sights with Iran’s desire to replace the Sunni rulers of Mecca and Medina, which it despises.
As a senior foreign ministry official told me, “We are Iran’s number one target.” They see the Islamic Republic of Iran as “a revolution, not a state. Lies and denies.”
Saudis see double standards. The continued U.S. interest in the ugly murder of journalist Khashoggi has rightly given the Saudi government a black eye, but is matched by the scale of Iran’s involvement in the Syrian massacre in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed. not something to do. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operates directly under the command of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But there was no US call to marginalize Iran’s supreme leader.
The Saudis cannot understand that the Iranian regime calling for “Death to America” is being treated with the utmost respect by the nuclear negotiators in Vienna. At the same time, the Saudi government has been publicly denounced, but in Saudi eyes they have shown no public hostility towards the United States or its people. They see it as weakening Iraq and failing to arouse US anger.
From the Saudi perspective, they see America’s offer of $1 trillion in sanctions relief in exchange for a bad nuclear deal as an existential threat to their kingdom.Khaled Abu, Middle East expert According to Toemeh, “Saudi and Gulf allies wondered why Biden was threatening them with ‘consequences’ simply because he was trying to protect them from their imminent annihilation by Iran. seems to be
During my meetings, one of the recurring issues seemed to irritate Saudis more than anything else. It is a lack of respect for the proud and independent Saudi people. Whether it’s angry American remarks or contempt, Saudis perceive the attitude to represent a contemptuous patron-customer relationship that seriously undermines their cultural sensitivities. There is
They believe that US demands to choose the US over China or Russia are unrealistic, given that China is China’s most important trading partner and Russia is a member of OPEC+. When they repeated Saudi Arabia’s point that it is only one of the 23 countries in OPEC+, I have seen in the past that they have unilaterally changed oil production to overthrow OPEC members and reminded them that they supported the interests of There was no reaction from them to it. Saudi Arabia knows it must maintain and resupply American weapons systems, so it needs to show some flexibility and cannot move to China right away.
What’s not appreciated in the US is the stark difference in how the monarchy changed the orthodox attitude of the clergy, making it more tolerant and denouncing radicalization. visited the concentration camps with the American Jewish Commission. This is a symbolic act that should not be underestimated. This was a welcome change after Saudi proselytizing and funding in the 20th century, which was perceived as the cause of the radicalization of Islamic communities around the world.
Clifford May, president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy, said, “There are legitimate grievances with Muhammad bin Salman.” Saudi Arabia questioned America’s commitment to the relationship after Biden vowed to make MBS a pariah and removed the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist designation. It is equally frustrated by its disregard for Iran’s attacks on the United States and its removal of US Patriot missiles from its defense systems.
Condemnation is not the way to advance American or Saudi interests. The United States should focus on supporting the Iranian people’s aspirations for regime change while repairing vital ties with Saudi Arabia for national security interests.
Dr. Mandel is Director of MEPIN (Middle East Political Information Network). He regularly briefs members of Congress and their foreign policy advisers. He is the Senior Security Editor for The Jerusalem Report. He is a regular contributor to The Hill and The Jerusalem Post.
Image: Reuters.
