An ex-Saudi intel chief stated that Iran-Saudi talks would not be successful as US intentions would hinder it. He categorized Washington and the EU as not an honest brokers in getting a deal that China has obtained.
China Mediates Iran-Saudi Reconciliation
This is the brutally honest assessment of Saudi intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal when he gave his take on the breakthrough deal mediated by Beijing, he stated on Tuesday, reported the Middle East Eye.
Washington and the Eu's efforts as honest brokers were compared to how China conducted its diplomatic overtures to the two Arab countries. Faisal said China could do it since it had better relations with the two countries, not the White House, per AFP.
The Chinese leadership invited Iran and Saudi Arabia last Friday for several days to discuss trilateral talks in Beijing. Based on the joint statement that came from the intercession of Xi Jinping, both countries will open their consulates and missions in about two months, and keep each other national affairs untampered by either one as a binding obligation the deal entails, cited NPR.
It was a surprise master stroke of China that pushed Washington on the back foot, which sent alarm bells ringing in the Biden administration. This turn of events has sent a flurry of actions to dispel the current US administration's losing influence. A reaction from an ex-Trump official in the State Department, David Schenker, spoke to the outlet and confirmed the worst-case scenario. He said the administration sent ties spiraling down with Riyadh.
Faisal said the Saudis no longer want the US, especially after it is in such a sorry state. China is gaining ground faster than the White House acknowledged. He called out what he called a callous approach by the Biden White House with the Saudis, mentioning the messy handling of security concerns, especially the kingdom's concern about the Yemen war.
Saudi Arabia's Ex-Intel Chief's View on US Intentions
Turki al-Faisal is an ex-ambassador to the US and the current chair of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh. He is not exactly a participant in the negotiations but looked forward to more benefits from such interactions in the Middle East. He added that it would have a trickle-down effect on Yemen and Syria, where the conflict has cost lost lives that could have been avoided.
The top Saudi royal has expressed his doubts, but they are secondary. Stressed those who are in power and who signed the agreements are of concern. Faisal remarked how soon their doubts were dispelled to put the deal into motion.
In 2016, the kingdom abruptly cut ties with Tehran after the scheduled execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr was condemned. This led to an uproar as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the KSA murderers with Iranian assaulting the consulates of Saudi in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
The thought of ex-Saudi intel chief Faisal is the prevalent doubt of US intentions which could not have helped Iran-Saudi ties.
