Iran and Saudi Arabia have restored ties after seven years, brokered by China, the deal is most assuredly bad news for the US and worse for Israel.
I think this sends very clear signals to the world …. That the Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East and the fate of the region should be in the hands of its people.
Wang Yi, Director, Office of Foreign Affairs Commission
Meanwhile Ali Shamkhani, Secretary for the supreme National Security Council, expressed an all round willingness to continue constructive dialogue, fully implement their consensus, enhance good neighborliness, and to jointly safeguard regional security.
At the end of the talks, we reached a decision to start a new chapter after seven years of severed relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, while considering the interests of the two countries.
The security and well being of the region and preventing undue intervention from extra regional forces, particularly from the West, and constant mischief by the Zionist regime in the region.
We hope that this new chapter will compensate for the stagnation of relations over these last seven years and also lead to stability and security in the region, as well as the improvement of the welfare of all its people.
Ali Shamkhani, Secretary for the supreme National Security Council
Saudi Arabia was also positive in its assessment of what this deal means. When it comes to the agreement itself, this is what we know. The KSA and Iran have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, which will be followed up by the reopening of embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months per protocol, resulting in the exchange of ambassadors.
The two countries agreed to implement the bilateral security cooperation agreement signed on April 17th 2001, as well as the general agreement reached on May 27th 1998 aimed at fostering ties in the economic, commercial investments, technical and scientific fields.
Since the announcement of the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, there's been a tidal wave of responses and reactions.
US President Joe Biden's response was clearly off the mark.
…better relations between Israel and their Arab neighbors are better for everybody.
US President, Joe Biden
In Israel, the opposition has been quick to react and has slammed Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran represents a failure of foreign policy by Israel's longest serving Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
There is no doubt, however, that this is seen as a major defeat for the US and its standing, especially when it comes to diplomacy.
"lose, lose, lose for American interests".
Mark Dubowitz, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CEO
This agreement demonstrates the Saudis don't trust Washington to have their back. Iran sees opportunity to peel away US allies to end international isolation.
Although this may be a huge diplomatic victory for China, this is also a victory for Iranian policy when it comes to Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Let's not forget this was a face saving deal for the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, since his Yemen policy was defeated due to the Ansarullah movements dominance in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia was also defeated in Syria when it backed Daesh terrorists with the help of its allies, such as the US, other issues, leading to the severance of diplomatic ties between Iran and the KSA included the Saudi execution of the prominent Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al Nimr.
Saudi Arabia was also responsible when it led Persian Gulf Arab monarchies to blacklist the Lebanese Resistance group, Hezbollah, as a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, this was Hezbollah's reaction to the agreements.
It is an important development, of course, and if it proceeds in its natural course so we don’t rush things, its still fresh news it could open up horizons in the entire region, including in Lebanon.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Leader
The KSA's past behavior shows that it cannot be a trustworthy partner until certain actions are taken when it comes to issues like Yemen, Palestine and Syria, where it has played destructive roles.
It remains to be seen whether this agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to ensure the security of West Asia would translate into a decrease of the US presence in the region leading to its eventual withdrawal.