Saudi Prince-Iranian Rowhani discuss terrorism

I've been wondering for some time now about Saudi-Iranian relations and where they stand. Both countries have oil, support terrorism, have terrible human rights records, and want to push Israel into the sea. However, we are partners with Saudi Arabia, despite their financial support for terrorism, while we are close to violently confronting Iran over, "weapons of mass destruction." The most obvious reason for this goes back to the Islamic Revolution and the removal of the US backed Shah of Iran. Cries of "Death to America" have been emenating from Tehran ever since. But where does this leave Saudi Arabia?

From what I've been reading, the Saudi's are looking to Tehran for a common sense regional policy that allows the US an opportunity to somewhat back away from the region. For example, "With this is mind, some aspects of Iranian politics in the region are not conducive to defusing tension. In fact, they give rise to doubts and concerns among the Gulf countries, reigniting negative memories of previous Iranian policies toward the region. The foremost among these is Tehran's determination to develop its conventional and non-conventional defense programs. The GCC states cannot view this merely as a U.S.-EU-Iran dispute, because those directly threatened by such weapons are not the Americans or the Europeans, but the GCC countries.

Due to this direct threat, the GCC states find themselves obliged to depend more on foreign forces to guarantee their national security. Thus, Iran's policies intensify foreign military presence in the region and force regional states into an arms race that could adversely affect regional stability, deepen mistrust and obstruct national development plans.

Iran's attempt to exploit the current instability in Iraq to consolidate and assert its political leverage at the expense of the other parties sends wrong signals. It is not just a direct intervention in the affairs of an Arab country whose political stability and security are directly linked to the Gulf environment as whole; it is seen as an attempt to destabilize the regional balance of power and sends clear signals that Tehran's foreign policy is still motivated by narrow interests.

On the other hand, it is vital for the GCC states to understand and take into account Iran's security concerns, especially as it finds itself under serious foreign political pressure and besieged from all directions by the U.S. presence in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq. It is not in the interest of the GCC states to allow continued animosity between Tehran and Washington, because this adversely impacts GCC-Iranian relations. More than ever, the GCC is today required to make Tehran feel that it is an indispensable part of any Gulf security arrangement."

With that being said, I found this article very interesting. Part of the article states that, "Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Sunday called for cooperation between Riyadh and Tehran in countering terrorism which he said was threatening the entire countries in the Persian Gulf region, IRNA reported.

In a meeting with the top Iranian security official Hassan Rowhani, Prince Abdullah stated that the two regional heavyweights could play a key role in fighting terrorism both at the regional and international levels.

The Saudi crown prince described Iran and Saudi Arabia as important friends in the Islamic world, stressing the need for strengthening ties between the two countries."

READ MORE