Jason Brodsky to Voice of America: The Islamic Republic has historically proven to be an enemy of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Tehran on Saturday, June 17, and met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The details surrounding the Saudi prince's visit to Tehran revealed that the Islamic Republic's policies in the region continue to be a point of contention for its neighbor. According to reports, the Saudi Foreign Minister refused to hold a joint press conference in a room with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that featured a photo of Qassem Soleimani. Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. Before his death, he had threatened figures including former U.S. President Donald Trump and was known as the coordinator of Iran-affiliated militias in the region, groups that Saudi Arabia has protested against. Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to normalize their diplomatic relations last March after seven years of severed ties, mediated by China. Saudi Arabia cut its relations with Iran after Iran-backed forces attacked Saudi diplomatic sites in Iran. Their attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad followed the execution of a Shiite cleric named Nimr Baqr al-Nimr. Jason Brodsky, the policy director of the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' organization, which opposes Iran's nuclear program and the Islamic Republic's policies, responded to the Persian section of Voice of America's question about 'why the Saudis decided to improve relations with Iran' by stating that the Saudi decision to normalize relations with Iran is because the priority of Saudi leaders is to implement 'Vision 2030.' Brodsky referred to the ambitious long-term plans of Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, to enhance the economic status of Saudi Arabia, reduce its dependence on oil, diversify its sources of income, and advance in various industrial, tourism, and scientific fields. Brodsky stated that the Saudis 'need stability to achieve this project. Therefore, reducing risk is important for them.' However, he noted that there are concerns about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees following 'Iran's past attacks' in Saudi Arabia, as those past attacks were not addressed. According to him, normalizing relations with Iran is 'Riyadh's decision to take control of the situation.' In response to the question of whether the recent relations between Saudi Arabia and Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, should also be considered a significant change in Saudi relations with the U.S., he said, 'I do not see the restoration of Saudi diplomatic relations with Iran as a significant change for U.S.-Saudi relations.' Brodsky stated that the new conditions mean that the situation has returned to what it was before 2016, when Riyadh and Tehran had normal diplomatic relations. He added that during that time, 'the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, so we should not be under the illusion that this restoration of relations will change the fundamental tensions between the two countries. The Islamic Republic continues to seek dominance over the region rather than regional integration.' He also commented on whether Iran-Saudi relations would hinder Saudi normalization with Jerusalem, stating, 'Israel will seek to normalize its relations with Saudi Arabia. In fact, now that Riyadh has restored its relations with Iran, this could mean that [Saudi Arabia] is preparing the ground for a final agreement to normalize relations with Israel in the future. After all, this is what the UAE has done.' Regarding the statements of Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic, who said that Israel is an enemy of Saudi relations with Iran, he said, 'Iran is trying to isolate Israel to neutralize the Abraham Accords (and the potential future membership of others). The reality is that the Islamic Republic has proven through its behavior throughout history that it is an enemy of its relations with Saudi Arabia.' The Saudi embassy in Tehran will reopen after 'Eid al-Adha.' The Saudi Foreign Minister emphasized 'ensuring maritime security' in Tehran. The Saudi Foreign Minister has arrived in Tehran. Macron hosted bin Salman; Iran, Lebanon, and regional security were the main topics of discussion at the Élysée.