Escaping a Zero-Sum Struggle Between Iran and Saudi Arabia

In May 2019, Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former diplomat, and Abdulaziz Al Sager, chair of the Gulf Research Center, called for dialogue between the leaders of their respective countries, Iran and Saudi Arabia. With the arrival of a new administration in Washington, Mousavian and Sager have renewed their call for dialogue between the two countries that would lead to a regional modus vivendi.

Is a dialogue between Saudi and Iranian leaders possible? What fundamentals should guide a potential dialogue and what confidence-building measures will be required as part of a roadmap for direct discussions? What role should the Biden administration play in this process?

AGSIW hosted a conversation with Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Abdulaziz Al Sager to discuss their January 31 op-ed published by The Guardian. NPR’s Deborah Amos moderated the discussion.

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