<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a name="_GoBack"></a><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Iran-Saudi Arabia Relations</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Imminent rapprochement or continuation of the boycott?</span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span style="color: #3598db;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hassan Alsarraf</span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have been severed since 2016 following an attack by angry</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> protesters </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, over the Saudi </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">authorities' execution of 47 people, including Saudi Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The reasons for the tension in Iranian-Saudi relations are not limited to the events of 2016, since the establishment of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">even before)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and until now events occur from time to time </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">that create a state of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">tension and conflict between the two countries, in addition to that, there are other periods of time in which a remarkable rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is noticeable. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The question that may arise in this regard asks what are the causes of tension? What are the reasons for convergence? Which causes are stronger and more likely than others and whichwould be more sustainable?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Before the official establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Iranian monarchy was very resentful and concerned about</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the expansion of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wahhabi movement</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in the Hijaz, and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the deliberate demolition of the graves of the imams of Ahl al-Bayt in Al-Baqi'</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>1925 increased this discontent in religious, political and </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>popular circles in Iran.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Iranian-Saudi diplomatic relations officially began in </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">summer of 1929 on the basis of a treaty of friendship signed between the two countries.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">After that, a </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>number ofevents occurred in the following decades that left a significant impact on the nature of Saudi-Iranian relations, perhaps the most important of which is the execution of the Iranian pilgrim (Abu Talib Al-Yazdi) </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1943, as this was followed by a large</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> wave of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">statements of condemnation and denunciation </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>in Iranian </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>religious and political circles, which resulted in the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the non-participation of Iranian Muslims in</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Hajj rituals for four consecutive seasons. Diplomatic relations were restored in 1948.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the end of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign, Iranian-Saudi relations were at their best: in January 1978, the Shah of Iran made a historic visit to Saudi Arabia and was warmly received by then-King Faisal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the Iranian revolution in 1979, a number of events and positions took place<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>that served as new causes of tension</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> between Iran and Saudi Arabia, perhaps the most prominent of which is </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Saudi support forSaddam's regime in its war against</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Iran, the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>exchange of accusations between the two countries of interfering and carrying out terrorist acts</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">,</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">killing of pilgrims</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Mecca, most of themIranians, in the summer of 1987</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>, as well as the stampede in Mina in 2015, which killed some 796 pilgrims, 465 of them Iranians.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia did not last throughout the Islamic Republic, as relations between the two countries witnessed a state of rapprochement and friendship during the period of Hashemi Rafsanjani (who visited Saudi Arabia more than once)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mohammad Khatami. Khatami's</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> period is expressed </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>as the golden period in the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia, so that Iranian pilgrims in these periods held some religious ceremonies and read supplicationswithout pressure from the Saudi authorities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The U.S. invasion of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Iraq in 2003 and the change in its </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">political system were a major factor in changing the nature of Iranian-Saudi relations, as each country began accusing the other of interfering in Iraq </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">worsening the security situation</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in the region. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Riyadh has been concerned aboutIranian influence in the Iraqi government, especially during Maliki's tenure</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">there are other reasons that have exacerbated tensions, such as Saudi support for the terrorist group Jundullah in Iran, and the events in Yemen in 2009 and 2010. Accusing Iran of attempting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador, assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists, Saudi protests in 2011 and 2012 and accusing Iran of supporting it, and then the grinding wars in Syria and Yemen are all the most important reasons for the perpetuation of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But according to some statements, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent statement, Iranian-Saudi talks are <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>underway,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">there is a possibility of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> an</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>imminent </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">breakthrough and an imminent rapprochement in relations between these two countries. The question that may arise in this regard asks what </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">prevents Saudi-Iranian rapprochement?</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>And about the nature of this imminent rapprochement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If the two countries look at in their talks the radical differences of the religious, sectarian and ideological aspects, especially those related to the leadership of the Islamic world and control of the region, then it is certain that addressing these differences is not easy, and the reopening of embassies and consulates in the two countries does not necessarily mean addressing these root problems. But in terms of current issues and events </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>in the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">region</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">such as what is happening in Yemen and Lebanon, these are the issues that may be addressed after the expected Iranian-Saudi rapprochement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The important thing to pay attention to is that all the international mediations after 2016 that worked to find reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia did not succeed, as Pakistan, which was the most important mediator country for reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, did not succeed in its mission, and Iraq as well, despite its efforts from 2019 to 2021, achieved nothing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But signs of rapprochement have begun since Mohammed bin Salman was disappointed with Western support in confronting Iran, prompting him to declare last March to the American newspaper The Atlantic that "Iran will remain a neighbor of Saudi Arabia and they cannot 'get rid of' each other, and called for "resolving matters" between them, stressing Riyadh's intention to continue talks with Tehran. What confirms this is that US President Joe Biden</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> &ndash; </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>according to US media &ndash; began to put real pressure on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to re-tame him in light of the unprecedented tension in relations between Washington and Riyadh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><strong><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Traditional Arabic',serif;">&nbsp;</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Iran-Saudi</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Arabia Talks</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So far, five rounds of talks have been held between the two countries, and both sides have been very reticent to highlight the details of these talks; it seems </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>that these talks are influenced &ndash; in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">one way or another &ndash;</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> by the stages of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>nuclear agreement </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and the outcome of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on geostrategic relations in the region. Observers believe that these talks have recently become close toIranian news agencies published photos of the fifth round of talks showing Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Saudi intelligence chief Khalid Al-Humaidan</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and Deputy Secretary-General of Iran's National Security Council Saeed Irwani</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, and publishing </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">such an image in the Iranian</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> media </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">as a positive indicator towards The success of these conversations. According to some circulating and unofficial reports, Iran is counting on the issue of relations with Saudi Arabia in light of the possibility of failure of talks with the West on the nuclear file. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia seeks to obtain some gains from</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">restoration of relations with Iran, perhaps</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the most important of which is </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the resolution of the war in Yemen, which lasted about seven years, which isone of the most important crises facing Mohammed bin Salman.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The energy crisis and the ongoing war in East of yourandBa</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An April<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>21</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> article</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in The Washington Post</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> noted </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>an important issue about the impact of the upcoming energy crisis on the nature of the Saudi position vis-&agrave;-vis</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">West. According to this article, written by the Indian-American political analyst Fareed Zakaria</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, in order to maintain the intensity of its pressure on Russia, and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>to ensure the success of its sanctions imposed on Moscow, the West has no choice but to restore good relations with Mohammed bin Salman and revive the nuclear</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> agreement.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> With Iran</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and lifting sanctions on </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Venezuela, the West will ensure <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>that oil prices will not rise, by urging Saudi Arabia and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">other producing countries</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> to </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>raise their oil production. If oil prices are controlled</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, Western sanctions </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>on Russia will pay off</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Moscow will be isolated and marginalized. But what is strikingis that Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Western </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">demands to increase production. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It has remained committed</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> to the OPEC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Plus </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>production level, perhaps due to the coolness of the Saudi-American relationship under Biden. The matter</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> has reached the point of making bin Salman &ndash; according to the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Washington Post article &ndash; work</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> to </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>strengthen relations with China and Russia, and Riyadh's commitment to the level of production agreed upon in OPEC Plus confirms</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> - </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">according to some observers - the existence</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>a kind of rapprochement between RoSia and Saudi Arabia. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Therefore, if relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are normalized, and Riyadh strengthens its relations with Beijing and Moscow, we may witness a new reason for the cooling of the relationship between Riyadh and Washington, and this is of course not in the interest of </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the United States and the West </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">in general, because the success of economic pressure on Russia</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">its deterrence from aggression against the West dependsor not on controlling energy and</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> oil prices.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>If Saudi Arabia does not see guarantees from the United States and if relations with Washington remain as they are, Riyadh is likely to not fully respond toWestern demands. However, the United States has other options in supplementing the troubled</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> oil market </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">through a new opening to Iranian and Venezuelan oil.</span></p>