In a recent interview with IRNA, Ali Motahari, a prominent Iranian politician and former deputy speaker of Iran’s Majlis, underscored the potential impact of improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. His remarks come at a critical juncture for the Middle East, as regional rivalries, Iranian-backed terror, and shifting alliances continue to destabilize the landscape.
Saudi Arabia stands as a central power in the region, wielding enormous influence not only by virtue of its status as the world’s largest oil exporter, but also as a leader in the Muslim world. Riyadh’s strong diplomatic, economic, and religious ties grant it leverage both in the West and across the Islamic sphere. Motahari highlighted the importance for Iran of strengthening its diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia to address pressing strategic concerns—namely, sway over U.S. regional policy, developments regarding Gaza, negotiations with world powers over Iran’s nuclear program, and countering the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations.
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Position
Diplomatic overtures toward Saudi Arabia reflect Iran’s recognition of Riyadh’s influence. Saudi Arabia has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policy in the Middle East and stands as a potential gatekeeper for normalization with Israel—an issue of existential importance for Tehran. The Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, have created regional momentum that further isolates Iran and its terror proxies: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iraqi and Syrian militias.
The October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas in southern Israel, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, marked a turning point in regional security. Iran’s material and ideological support for Hamas and other terror organizations directly contributed to that atrocity and to Israel’s ongoing defensive war. In this context, Motahari suggested that closer ties between Tehran and Riyadh could influence both the situation in Gaza and Iran’s negotiating position with Western powers.
Iran’s Diplomatic Calculations
Motahari outlined several anticipated benefits for Iran if it succeeds in deepening relations with Saudi Arabia:
- Regional Leverage in Nuclear Negotiations: Saudi Arabia’s position may affect U.S. and Western policies regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Improved diplomatic relations could give Iran added leverage in ongoing and future negotiations with the West.
- Impact on Gaza: Motahari suggested that such shifts could alter the situation in Gaza. However, historical evidence shows that Iran’s support for Hamas and the deliberate perpetuation of conflict with Israel have been the principal drivers of violence and suffering for both Israelis and Gaza residents.
- Countering Saudi-Israeli Normalization: Iran seeks to prevent further normalization between Israel and Arab states. Tehran’s leadership sees common Saudi-Israeli interests, supported by the Abraham Accords and U.S. mediation, as a threat to its ambitions for hegemony and its narrative as the axis of resistance.
- Muslim World Leadership Amidst Rivalry: With regional competition mounting from Turkey as well, Iranian officials are keenly aware of the importance of cultivating influence among Sunni-majority states like Saudi Arabia to offset their relative isolation.
Gaza and the Broader Conflict
The ongoing conflict in Gaza remains at the heart of regional tension. Since October 7, Israel has undertaken extensive defensive operations targeting Hamas terrorists, whose brazen assault resulted in the murder, mutilation, and abduction of innocent Israeli civilians. Despite claims of support for Gaza, Iran’s involvement has consistently empowered Hamas, exacerbating suffering among Gaza residents by fueling hostilities and impeding peace efforts.
Any prospect of Iran-Saudi outreach positively impacting Gaza requires skepticism, given Iran’s central role in perpetuating violence there. Iran’s objective is not stability, but the strategic use of Gaza as a lever against Israel and its allies, to undermine normalization initiatives and maintain its terror proxies as disruptive forces throughout the region.
Regional and International Reactions
For Israel and its international partners, particularly the United States, normalization with Saudi Arabia represents not only the prospect of a historic diplomatic breakthrough but also the consolidation of a pragmatic regional bloc capable of countering Iranian subversion. Israeli leadership continues to emphasize that peace and stability depend on isolating and defeating Iranian-backed terror groups, while pursuing closer relations with moderate Arab states.
Riyadh remains cautious, weighing its own security concerns, regional aspirations, and relationship with Washington. Saudi officials maintain strong reservations about Iran’s destabilizing influence, ballistic missile program, and nuclear activities—factors driving their ongoing engagement with Israel and the US.
Looking Forward
Ali Motahari’s remarks reflect a broader reassessment within segments of the Iranian political elite. Economic sanctions, military setbacks, and international condemnation have created new pressures on the regime, even as its clerical and security apparatus remains committed to the strategy of regional proxy warfare.
How Iran and Saudi Arabia proceed will shape the outlook for the Middle East. Should rapprochement impede greater Israeli-Arab normalization, it could embolden Iranian proxies and prolong regional instability. Conversely, failure to substitute confrontation with engagement will deepen Tehran’s isolation, both diplomatically and economically.
The stakes for Israel are clear: to defend its population and democratic sovereignty in the face of unrelenting terror fueled by Iran and to foster a regional order built on peace and mutual recognition rather than continued enmity and violence.
Recent developments place the choices before Middle Eastern states in stark relief. Iran’s outreach to Saudi Arabia is not just an exercise in diplomacy—it is a strategic move with consequences for the future of war and peace across the region.
