Iran-Saudi deal ushers in post-America era in Persian Gulf region: Leader’s aide
A top military adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says a post-US era has started in the Persian Gulf region in the wake of a China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties.
Speaking on Sunday, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi emphasized that the recent rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh marks an end to the American hegemony in the region.
“Regarding the recent agreement, it … was a tectonic shift in the political field and an end to the American hegemony in the region. The post-US era in the Persian Gulf region has just started,” he said.
“The Chinese have decided to become the world’s first economy by 2030. The deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, mediated by China, dealt the second biggest blow to the US by China. This is because Saudi Arabia is China’s largest supplier of oil, and on the other hand, China’s strategic partnership agreement with Iran to invest in the development of our infrastructure was a great agreement.”
The remarks came two days after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions within the next two months. The pact followed days of intensive talks in Beijing.
In a joint statement issued by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China, Tehran, and Riyadh highlighted the need to respect each others’ national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.
They agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in April 2001 and another accord reached in May 1998 to boost economic, commercial, investment, technical, scientific, cultural, sports, and youth affairs cooperation.
General Rahim Safavi, who is also a former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), expressed hope that the region will move towards sustainable security and peace through the Iran-Saudi détente, noting that the power of the US and the Zionists is on the sharp decline.
“In my opinion, the agreement is in the interests of the two countries and the Western Asia region. It is not against any regional countries. Of course, it is natural for the arrogant powers to be upset about this issue and [try to] sabotage it,” he said.
Highlighting the expansion of China’s geo-economic sphere to the Persian Gulf, the senior commander predicted that Beijing and Moscow will help Saudi Arabia become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
“The alliance can play the role of a barrier against the US-led NATO and the West’s military power in the future,” General Rahim Safavi added.
