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Written by Gavin O’Reilly
Friday’s announcement that Iran and Saudi Arabia had restored bilateral ties for the first time in seven years marks a major geopolitical development in the Persian Gulf.
As the region’s two main powerhouses, Tehran and Riyadh had found themselves supporting opposing sides in conflicts in both Syria and Yemen over the past decade, resulting in tensions that would culminate in the ending of diplomatic relations in January 2016, following the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia; seen as the dominant Sunni power in the Islamic world, with Iran regarded as the Shia equivalent.
Thus, the restoring of diplomatic relations between both nations should lead to increased stability in a region beset by conflict over the past two decades.
Reaching beyond west Asia, Friday’s announcement also signifies the establishment of a new multipolar world order, with China having brokered the deal between both countries. With Saudi Arabia being a key US-ally and trading partner in the region, this may also indicate that should Washington now feel that Riyadh is moving into Beijing’s sphere of influence, it may vie for regime-change in Saudi Arabia in a bid to maintain hegemony in west Asia.
Indeed such an occurrence has a historical precedent.
In July 1979, the-then US administration of Jimmy Carter would launch Operation Cyclone, a covert CIA programme which would see the arming, funding and training of Wahhabi militants known as the Mujahideen, who would then go on to wage war on the Socialist government of previously Western-friendly Afghanistan, which had come under Soviet influence following the 1978 Saur Revolution.
Five months prior to the commencement of Operation Cyclone, Iran – also a former Western ally in the region – would come under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, following the Islamic Revolution which saw the overthrow of the US and UK-backed Shah Pahlavi. A major threat to US hegemony in the region, the Iranian Revolution was a key factor in the White House’s decision to arm the Afghan Mujahideen, lest its influence be weakened even further in west Asia, as well as drawing the Soviet Union into a costly military misadventure.
Should the United States now feel that Saudi Arabia is slipping away from its sphere of influence into China’s instead, and decides to pursue regime-change in response, one of the first steps it may take is a significant overhaul in corporate media coverage of Saudi Arabia’s brutal war on neighbouring Yemen.
In March 2015, following the seizure of the capital Sana’a by the Ansar Allah movement, Riyadh would begin an air campaign in a bid to restore the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to power
Using US and British-supplied bombs, and with military advisors on hand from both countries to assist in the selection of targets, Saudi Arabia has laid waste to the agricultural, medical and water infrastructure of Yemen over the past eight years, resulting in widespread starvation and the largest recorded Cholera outbreak in history in what is already the most impoverished country on the Arabian Peninsula. A situation exacerbated even further by a Saudi blockade preventing food and medical supplies from entering the country.
Despite the brutality of the Saudi campaign, it has received scant coverage from the corporate media over the past eight years, owing to the lucrative arms trade between Riyadh and the West, as well as the use of Saudi Arabia as a bulwark against Iran in the region, with Tehran long being accused of providing military aid to Ansar Allah.
Should the Chinese-brokered détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran now result in tensions between Washington and Riyadh however, and especially in a scenario where the Gulf Kingdom may decide to purchase weapons from China rather than the United States, a newfound concern for the situation in Yemen may arise amongst the western media, in a manner not dissimilar to their sudden coverage of the war in Ukraine following the Russian intervention last February, in spite of their miniscule coverage of the conflict during the previous eight years it had actually been taking place.
Such coverage of Saudi war crimes in Yemen may pave the way for a colour revolution attempt in Riyadh with the intention of bringing a more US-aligned leadership to power.
Indeed such an attempt is currently taking place in Iran, where the US has been supplying arms to the ‘Iranian opposition’ in a bid to install a client regime, and with officials from US-ally Israel already expressing their opposition to the Iran-Saudi deal, it may only be a matter of time before something similar occurs on the other side of the Persian Gulf.
No. The regime change will come to Teheran. And Riyadh will be first to benefit
The Teheran revolt has failed.. China’s influence here suggests Riyadh is looking for a dollar alternative.
Sawdi dalit don’t got the oomphh in him to be looking for alternatives. He’d be smacked down like he has been kept down all dem years. Like the hillbilly keeps the niggers in check. You understand that, don’t you? There is no alternative.
Ahson FICKLE MINDED Indian Dalit boy in brown stained smelly dhoti now a midnight cowboy in trenches of Ukraine SAUDIS AND IRAN KNOW DEEP DOWN THAT zionist entity HAS BEEN IMPLANTED BY THE CHRISTIAN WEST TO DESTABILIZE MUSLIM COUNTRIES AND RETART THE SOCIO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND PROSPERITY Saudis have seen how Japan’s economic prosperity was fizzled out by USA and the west and HOW GERMAN ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IS BEING DESTROYED IN SALAMI STYLE THESE ARE TWO CLASSIC EXAMPLES BUT THERE ARE 100s more Grow up Dalit boy
Always conspiracies and fear mongering… ..and the hype and the usual panic from you. And lo n behold you drive taxi in Lundon, and despite repeated requests to go back to Al-Baqistan you refuse to leave…..lol. Why is that Muhammad Balu Singh? Yous a durrtty hypocrite…..a boo gandu hendi convert to Islam. Shame on you.
The Saudis have leverage in their billions in US treasury notes that can not be dismissed or confiscated without repercussions . Relations with Iran would also give influence more valuable than alternatives to the West ,hillbillys can not afford Negros and what makes you think they are in check there are always alternatives.
Maybe they chop some heads clean house
You also going to be 6ft underground and still dreaming about that, like dumbass are you still living under rock and not notice how many time the US failed in Iran?
It wouldn’t work in Iran, China, and Russia their people aren’t rtded and they question first before opening their mouth.
As usual third world people jacking off on this stupid news when nothing is going on. Looking for low IQ angles when the news in just inconsequential.
What makes you superior you are even worse and more judgemental .. who are you to judge anyone’s comments or IQ by where they come from.. your opinion is narrow minded and no better.
You expert sheep herder no?
The brown idiots think replacing pig skin whites with yellow skin small eyes chinks is something to be excited about…
chrisgayreeks the anal feces human pump wants to be tied to a cross upside down and tossed off a skyscraper, where he can ass fuck the concrete in highdefinition dolby surround sound.
#MossadChange
That comment totally betrays your lower caste shia background no? as the koskhol moderator here no? Idiot does da same on Al-Bress TV…….Idiota. Get a new MO stupid middle aged middle eastern nigger.
your comment betrays your arrogance and stupidity you are just like JHK
Sorry,I couldn’t read the whole thing. I believe that you may very well be misinterpreting the reality of the situation, however. I believe that this is a positive development.
There were rumors that there was an actual attempt at this a couple years back that failed. The result was a massive purge. MBS wasn’t seen in public for many months, then appeared looking like he had problems with mobility in one of his arms. It’s possible they’ve tried, failed, and pissed all the wrong people off.
Perhaps with reconciliation between iran and saudi the iranians will stop supporting the huthis and the us will start supporting them instead. ;-)
And suddenly our media will realise something bad is going on and we all need to stand with yemen.
To ako sa Irán a Saudská Arábia pod vedením Číny pokúšajú o zblíženie je priam až dojemné. Verme, že sa tento krok podarí naplniť. Konečne bude Blízky východ zase o niečo bližšie k trvalému mieru. Držme im palce.
Bullshit! 3 banks failed out of what? 5,000 banks? Each one worth more than your third world muzlim shit-holes entire GDP no?……..modr jende talk rubbish all over the net, don’t you? stupid muzlim refugee.
The big pretend Jewish controlled US banks have more debt/derivatives on their books then capital to cover it. If one goes down the rest will follow, Muslim countries will still have raw material’s and real wealth.
Man get real no? There is no trust in Islam. Nobody trusts muzlim right? That’s why you live in the west too and not in Tehran among the stupids right?
Muslims trust Islam you twonk, and Islamic banking is more honourable for home buyers then Jewish Usury.
amerikan banks fail my memory fail from glue sniffing 69 years—Brandon is my hero
Regime change? Please. Saudi Arabia belongs to the Ibn Saud family. They rule the country with an iron fist. The regime will probably align itself with China and Russia vs the US.
When Saudi starts selling its oil in Renminbi/Yuan or gold instead of Dollars then the US will try and do the sanctions trick before sending in the heavies.
Is that your wish as an Izlamist? Are you muzlim?
I’m a Christian, and am old enough to see how events can unfold, as I’ve seen it happen before.