What to Make of the Iranian-Saudi Rapprochement and China’s Role in It

After talks held in Beijing, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed March 10 to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies within two months. The agreement followed seven years of diplomatic disputes between the two regional rivals that sparked proxy confrontations from Yemen to Iraq to Lebanon. The Chinese-brokered diplomatic agreement could have profound implications for the future of the Middle East, China’s regional role, and U.S. influence in the region.  

What motivated Iran and Saudi Arabia to reach this agreement now? How likely is it that the deal can move beyond the reestablishment of diplomatic ties to tangible policy shifts in Tehran and Riyadh? What motivated Beijing to play such a role, and does it indicate a more active diplomatic role for China in regional disputes in the future? What lessons should the United States draw from China bringing the Iranians and Saudis together? And how might U.S. interests in the Middle East be affected as a result? 

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