Saudi Arabia and Iran announced earlier this month that the countries have agreed to renew diplomatic relations following talks in Beijing.
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) told the Federal Newswire that while she is still concerned about human rights violations in the region, it is possible that the new agreement could last, which may lead to improved conditions for the people impacted by the war in Yemen.
“Though it is largely unclear if China's mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran will hold, this brokerage could lead to greater stability in the region," she said. "The war in Yemen that has been exacerbated by tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia has raised troubling human rights concerns, and any effort to de-escalate these tensions could be a start to end this egregious war. The silence around human rights violations is troubling and continues to be an issue of international concern. I will continue to monitor this issue in Congress and advocate for the rights and liberties of the most vulnerable.”
Iran and Saudi Arabia announced the agreement on March 10. In an analysis of the agreement, Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said China positioned itself as having brokered the agreement, which seemed to have progressed during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's trip to Beijing. Alterman suggested that what China gains from the situation is that it sends a "not-so-subtle message" that although the U.S. is militarily dominant in the region, China is an increasingly influential diplomatic presence.
"This adds to a perception of Chinese power and influence around the world, and it contributes to a narrative of a shrinking U.S. global presence," Alterman said.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have taken opposite sides in Yemen's civil war, which has been raging for more than seven years, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The United Nations facilitated a cease-fire in 2022, but after six months the opposing sides did not renew the deal. Saudi Arabia's military has been leading a coalition that supports the internationally recognized government of Yemen, while Iran has been backing Houthis rebels, who overthrew Yemen's government. The conflict has involved civilian attacks, and more than four million people have been displaced. Civilians have also endured widespread hunger, outbreaks of cholera and shortages of medical supplies.
Under the new agreement, Saudi Arabia and Iran will reopen their embassies and exchange ambassadors, AP News recently reported.
“I think it is a sign that China is increasingly confident in taking a more assertive role in the Middle East,” Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat of the Middle East Institute told the Associated Press.
China has interests in the region as Saudi Arabia’s largest oil export market and as a major trade partner of Iran, according to CSIS.
