Yves right here. Anybody cozying as much as Iran is an admission towards curiosity for a US messaging outlet like RFE/RL and so needs to be taken critically. The uptick in seen strikes to enhance Saudi-Iran ties seems to be one more Trump-proofing transfer.

UPDATE 7:25 AM EST: A just-released story on the Monetary Instances gives further affirmation. From Gulf states cautious of return to Donald Trump’s ‘most stress’ towards Iran:

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have signalled they continue to be dedicated to de-escalation with Iran as they put together for the return of Donald Trump, hoping he can finish a 12 months of warfare within the Center East however cautious his unpredictability might inflame tensions additional….

….the Gulf’s two powerhouses — Saudi Arabia and the UAE — have modified tack, searching for to have interaction with Tehran amid doubts concerning the US’s dedication to their safety. This turned extra pressing after Hamas’s October 7 2023 assault towards Israel triggered a wave of regional hostilities and heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with each Riyadh and Abu Dhabi searching for to stay on the sidelines….

In an indication of Riyadh’s want to keep up its chilly peace with Iran, Prince Mohammed on Monday hosted senior Iranian officers at an Arab-Muslim convention in Jeddah wherein he accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. He additionally condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, calling on the worldwide group to cease hostile actions on Iranian territory.

Individually, Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s presidential adviser, advised a convention in Abu Dhabi on Monday that the incoming Trump administration should pursue a “complete” strategy as an alternative of “reactive and piecemeal” insurance policies.

The feedback underlined the shift in Saudi and Emirati considering since they actively courted Trump after he took workplace in 2017 following years of Arab frustration with US coverage swings and a way of disengagement from the area.

By RFE/RL. Cross posted from OilPrice

• The Chief of Employees of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces made a uncommon go to to Iran, signaling a strengthening of ties between the 2 international locations.
• The go to comes amidst a backdrop of shifting political dynamics within the Center East, together with the latest election of Donald Trump.
• The warming relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran might have important implications for regional safety and stability.

The final chief of workers of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Baqeri, in Tehran throughout a uncommon go to on November 10.

Iran’s official IRNA information company mentioned they mentioned the event of protection diplomacy and bilateral cooperation with out providing any particulars.

Iranian media mentioned Baqeri had mentioned regional developments and protection cooperation with Saudi Protection Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman al-Saud final 12 months.

Ruwaili is simply the second high-profile Saudi official to journey to Tehran since Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to revive diplomatic relations after seven years following Chinese language-brokered talks in March 2023. Beforehand, Overseas Minister Faisal bin Farhan visited Iran in June 2023.

Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia severed ties with Shi’a-dominated Iran in 2016 after its diplomatic compounds in Tehran and Mashhad had been attacked by protesters over Riyadh’s execution of Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The journey comes days after the election of Donald Trump, whose second time period as U.S. president begins in January. He has pledged to deliver peace to the Center East, the place U.S. ally Israel is engaged in wars towards Iranian-backed teams in Gaza and Lebanon.

Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow on the German Institute for Worldwide and Safety Affairs, mentioned the timing of the journey was important as a result of it comes as varied international locations are getting ready for a second Trump presidency.

He mentioned the Saudis’ resolution to ship their high army official to Tehran “is a sign that they’re dedicated” to the detente course of that began final 12 months and that “they don’t need Trump’s election to jeopardize the lately bettering relations with Iran.”

Individually, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on the telephone and mentioned increasing bilateral relations, in response to Pezeshkian’s workplace.

Trump had good relations with Persian Gulf Arab states in his first tenure in workplace and labored on normalizing relations between Arab states and Iran’s archfoe, Israel.

Saudi Arabia has not normalized relations with Israel however Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is mentioned to have mentioned the potential for normalization with Saudi Arabia since 2021.

In one other signal of warming relations, Saudi Arabia introduced final month that it held army drills with Iran within the Sea of Oman.