This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 5, 2019, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hinted that his country would welcome Saudi Arabia with open arms if it prioritized friendly relations with neighbors over purchasing weapons from the United States.
The shift in Saudi Arabia's stance is attributed to the lack of a US military response to the strikes on Saudi oil facilities, creating an opportunity for Iran to pull Saudi Arabia away from the US and Israel.
Philip Gordon, a former White House coordinator for the Middle East, noted that there are cracks in Saudi Arabia's armor suggesting it is interested in exploring a new relationship with Iran.
He added that the worst outcome for the Saudis would be to move towards a confrontation with Iran, expecting US support, but finding out they won't.
Top officials from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, Saudi allies, have spoken publicly of the need for diplomacy to reduce tensions and have made their own efforts to reach out to Iran.
These developments could undermine the Trump administration's effort to build an international coalition to ostracize and pressure the Iranians.
Martin Indyk, a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, stated on Twitter that the anti-Iran alliance is crumbling, with the Emirati crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed, having struck a deal with Iran, and the Saudi crown prince, MBS, not far behind.
