The Saudi-Iranian Pact

On April 18th, Middle East Newsline [MENL] reported that Saudi Arabia and Iran signed an historic security cooperation pact. According to MENL, the agreement was signed by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz and his Iranian counterpart, Abdulvahed Moussavi Lari.  Nayef was the first Saudi minister to visit Iran since 1979.  The agreement will cover cooperation on combating drug trafficking, illegal immigration, terrorism, and cooperation between security forces.  Nayef said, "We have decided to take a big step towards security between our two countries.  We consider Saudi Arabia's security as Iran's security, and Iran's security as our security."  Iranian President Khatami called for closer ties with Saudi Arabia to increase Islamic solidarity against Israeli expansionism. He also expressed hope for similar agreements with other Arab Gulf states.

In July 1997, IASPS Strategic Fellow  P.M. Wihbey  projected such a geo-strategic development when he wrote: "Recent initiatives undertaken by (Crown Prince) Abdullah seem to confirm his predilection for a regional balance of power among Arab and Islamic states. Implicit is the rejection of American 'comprehensive' regional approaches to peace, security, and economic integration.  The perceived devolution of the American posture combined with a steady slide in oil prices has left the Saudis, and Abdullah in particular, with little choice other than to devise a new regional system of alliances centered upon a modus vivendi with arch-rival Iran."[see IASPS Research Papers in Strategy No. 4, "Succession in Saudi Arabia: The not so Silent Struggle"]

It is interesting to note the geopolitical context of the Saudi decision to sign a security pact with its regional arch-rival Iran. The signing comes in the aftermath  of a multi-billion arms agreement between Iran and Russia and the decision by the U.S. State Department to retain, with modifications, its decade-old sanctions policy against Iraq.