Wednesday 22 June 2016 - 23:17
Story Code : 220003
Persian Gulf nations turn away from Saudi Arabia, want to normalize ties with Iran
Kuwait expressed willingness that ambassadors ofPersian Gulf nations return toTehran and resume their diplomatic mission, the Saudi newspaper Al-Hayat reported.
The newspaper cited Kuwaits Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Jap-Allah. In particular, he said: "Kuwait is waiting forthe moment when ambassadors ofthePersian Gulf Cooperation Council nations will return toTehran. But the initiative fully depends onIran and its regional policy."
Persian Gulf monarchies understand that the Iranian market is very important fortheir economies.
Shoeib Bahman, a prominent Iranian political analyst and specialist onthe Middle East, said that the statements ofKuwaiti officials can be considered infour aspects.
First, each ofthePersian Gulf Cooperation Council nations is interested is having stable diplomatic relations withIran because all ofthem pursue their national interests inthe region. What is more, many ofthese countries have maritime borders withIran and they cannot be isolated fromtheir neighbor, the analyst told Sputnik.
Second, the Council members understand that Iran is one ofthe key players inthe region. It has much economic, political and military influence inthe Middle East. These countries want tohave normal ties withIran, butwithout diminishing his regional role.
Furthermore, some ofthe Council members have territorial disputes withSaudi Arabia. Riyadh seeks military dominance inthe region, and this has sparked concerns amongother players. This is why these countries are now turning toTehran, Bahman explained.
Finally, aftera final nuclear agreement was reached betweenIran and the West, European companies and investments rushed intothe Iranian market. Regional players are followingthe example and want todevelop economic ties withIran.
All ofthe abovehas pushed the Council torevise its stance towardIran, the analyst concluded.
The assumption was shared byIranian journalist and expert, Emad Abshenass. According tohim, many ofthe Persian Gulf Cooperation Council members have admitted their policy towardsTehran was wrong.
"They understood that fromthe very beginning their policy towardsIran was wrong, especially when it comes toSaudi Arabia. Historically, Iran has had much influence inthe region. But unlikemany Western countries and Saudi Arabia, Tehran never meddled indomestic affairs ofother regional players," Abshenass noted.
He also explained that only Saudi Arabia and Bahrain has cut offdiplomatic ties withTehran.
"Not all the Council members express solidarity withSaudi Arabia inits course towardsIran. Such countries asQatar or Kuwait could have already returned their ambassadors toIran butthey are afraid ofRiyadh. In fact, there are no obstacles forthis fromTehran," the expert pointed out.
However, the situation is more complicated when it comes toSaudi Arabia, he added.
"Saudi Arabia and Iran could restore diplomatic relations. But tomake this happen, Riyadh would have toabandon its wrongful policy towardsTehran, including stop sponsoring terrorism inthe Middle East," Abshenass said.
In January, afterSaudi Arabia executed prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi embassy inTehran and a consulate inMeshhad. In response, Saudi Arabia and then Bahrein broke offdiplomatic ties withIran. The United Arab Emirates downgraded relations withTehran and decreased the number ofIranian diplomats. In turn, Kuwait and Qatar called offtheir ambassadors fromIran.
By Sputnik News
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