The most surprised by the move were two: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
There are indications that Saudi Arabia did not inform Netanyahu or his officials about the recent diplomatic developments with Iran.
It likewise appears that Iran did not inform its allies of the recent diplomatic developments with Saudi Arabia, which took place behind closed doors in Beijing. Iran considers the agreement to be a matter of supreme national interest, which will contribute to the stabilization of the Gulf region and potentially lead to breakthroughs in various arenas in the Middle East.
One of the most significant potential outcomes is the possibility of resolving the ongoing conflict in Yemen, according to an outline currently being drawn up as part of the Saudi-Iranian negotiations.
Riyadh notably kept Washington informed about the ongoing negotiations with Tehran, and while American officials were aware of the general outline of the agreement, they were not involved in all the details. This suggests that Saudi Arabia remains committed to its relationship with the United States.
Additionally, the US does not view China’s sponsorship of the reconciliation agreement as a threat to world peace, but rather as a signal of Saudi Arabia’s ability to navigate and manage diplomatic relationships in the Arab and Islamic worlds as a leading country in the region.
Saudi Arabia seemingly has been sharing updates on its Iran negotiations with other countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain.
The Saudis do not appear to be overstating the significance of the agreement and have expressed a willingness to weather any potential Iranian breaches of the agreement.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia apparently did not place much importance on Israel’s promises to protect and defend the kingdom in case of escalation, as Israel’s talk of normalization did not align with the Saudi royal family’s plan. Additionally, Israel’s failure to make progress toward resolving the Palestinian issue allegedly played a role in Saudi Arabia’s plans.
Saudi Arabia’s recent diplomatic successes, including the reconciliation with Qatar and Turkey, demonstrate its leading role among Arab and Muslim countries in the Gulf and beyond. The recent agreement with Iran shows once again Riyadh’s ability to navigate complex geopolitical challenges and pursue peace and stability in the region.
The Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement, brokered by China, is a resounding slap in the face to Netanyahu and his administration, which failed to “provide the goods” and were left with no say in the matter.
It is also a strong blow to Hizbullah, which knew “nothing and a half” about the agreement.
The agreement proves that Saudi Arabia is the strongest and leading Arab and Muslim country in the Gulf and among Islamic countries and it is a signal to the United States that there are alternative power structures in the no longer unipolar world.