Saudi Arabia floats non-aggression pact with Iran and regional states, FT
Saudi Arabia has floated a non-aggression pact between Iran and Middle Eastern states based on a 1970s agreement that eased tensions in Europe during the Cold War, The Financial Times reported on Thursday.
The Saudi Arabian efforts have gained the support of European capitals and EU institutions, but it’s unclear if Israel and the US would support it.
The UAE has taken a hawkish position on Iran and moved substantially closer to Israel since the US-Israeli war on Iran started.
Saudi Arabia is modelling its framework on the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which were signed by the Soviet Union and its allies, the US, and European states.
The agreement secured a common acceptance of Europe’s post-WWII borders. Signatories also agreed to respect human rights and cooperate on economic, scientific, and humanitarian issues.
An Arab diplomat told The Financial Times that a similar agreement for the Middle East would be welcomed “by most Arab and Muslim states, as well as by Iran”. The latter has called on Gulf states to close US military bases in the region.
Israel would likely oppose any formal agreement that seeks to reduce tensions between Arab states and Iran. It’s also unclear whether the US would support the move. [Continue reading…]