The meeting between the Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers in New York, the first since the 2013 election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, could indicate a possible thaw in otherwise tense ties between the two Gulf heavyweights.
The rivalry between the two states has played itself out in the region on many occasions. This meeting could be viewed as just one component of the constantly changing dynamics on the ground — thanks to the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants and the region’s attempts to thwart it. It is just another scenario in the script where foreign powers are intervening in complex confrontations that see religious fundamentalists fighting against secularists and other groups against each other. The threat posed by Isil is, however, broad-based and regional nations need to adopt a more inclusive approach, with regard to each other’s specific roles, when it comes to combating this danger. In any event, the interface should be seen in a constructive light, provided the two protagonists have a transparent agenda, which is to ensure the stability of the region by wielding their influence through mutual cooperation.
While it is entirely possible that the Iranian authorities may be using these moments of amity as a tool to leverage allowances on their controversial nuclear programme, they must understand that viewed against the threat posed by Isil, the two issues are separate and should be treated as such. Trade-offs should be ruled out in a partnership to eradicate Isil. Both countries must comprehend that this is an occasion to improve associations, which could act as a stimulus to other regional stakeholders to unite under one goal in the fight against a common enemy.
