New Iranian president may choose Riyadh for his first official visit

A number of Iranian newspapers and media websites, particularly those on the more “moderate” end of the spectrum, have published articles calling on the newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, to choose Riyadh as the destination for his first official foreign visit.

They urge him to take advantage of the opportunity to benefit from Saudi diplomacy, which has proven effective in helping to ease tensions in the region. These calls come amid growing apprehension following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 during a visit to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony for the new president.

Two particularly significant pieces were published simultaneously on platforms in Iran associated with more moderate attitudes. The first was an editorial published by Iran Diplomacy, a website affiliated with the Foreign Ministry, and headlined: “Amid regional tensions, test diplomacy with Saudi Arabia at least once.”

It was written by Sayyed Mohammed Hossein Malaek, Iran’s former ambassador to Switzerland and China, who wrote: “I suggest that Pezeshkian’s administration abandon the classic foreign policy approach and consider a new strategy.”

More specifically, he proposed that the president, who has not yet formed his cabinet, should swiftly arrange an official visit to Riyadh and discuss with the Kingdom’s leadership the present regional situation and possible solutions to problems. He contends that effective diplomacy and agreements with the Saudis could yield significant benefits, considering the Kingdom’s substantial and pragmatic influence over Israel and the US, in comparison to that of many other countries.

Malaek added: “So far, Saudi Arabia has been asked to align itself with our highly radical positions, which has not only failed but has backfired. This time, it is possible to exert pressure on the radical policies of Israel and the United States through coordinating with Saudi Arabia in the context of cooperation throughout the region.”

The second article featured Dr. Ali Bigdeli, a renowned academic and professor of political science at Shahid Beheshti University. In an interview with Setareh Sobh newspaper, he proposed that Pezeshkian should choose Saudi Arabia and Egypt as his first two destinations for official visits. He highlighted the importance of a letter sent by King Salman to Pezeshkian, in which the Saudi ruler suggested that Iran needs a friend in the region rather than an adversary.

Bigdeli had voiced this opinion before. In a story published by Iranian newspaper Arman Melli, he discussed the assassination of Haniyeh and the tensions between Iran and other countries in the region and the wider world, and said: “Recently, King Salman wrote a letter to Mr. Pezeshkian. If I were in the position of Mr. Mohammed Javad Zarif, the assistant to the president for strategic affairs, I would recommend that President Pezeshkian make his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, in order to ease the atmosphere, to some extent.”

Calls for Saudi Arabia to take the role of mediator in Iran’s relations with the world, in particular a potential Trump-ruled US, are not entirely new. Several Iranian figures proposed similar ideas before the most recent tensions arising from the killing of Haniyeh, with the US presidential election in November looming large and with it the possibility of a Trump victory.

The calls also reflect awareness of Riyadh’s ability to coordinate with Washington on the possible easing of economic sanctions on Tehran, or to obtain exceptions that allow Saudi companies to build economic, trade and investment relations with Iran without exposing those businesses to penalties under the US sanctions. This would not only benefit Iran economically but also help to improve relations with other countries in the Arab neighborhood, including Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.

For now, however, a critical indicator of Tehran’s intent will remain its behavior in the region, especially its stance on the stalled Yemeni reconciliation.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami

Following the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash in May, both of whom had contributed to initial moves toward building normalized relations with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia took three significant steps along the trust-building path with Tehran that was initiated by a China-sponsored agreement under Raisi.

The Saudis participated in the mourning ceremonies for Raisi and Abdollahian. They also sent a delegation to Pezeshkian’s inauguration, at which a member of the Saudi Cabinet, Prince Mansour bin Mutaib, delivered the letter from King Salman to the new Iranian president. And Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Pezeshkian after the inauguration to discuss bilateral relations, and regional and international developments.

The question now is whether the recent outreach initiatives stem from a genuine belief among more pragmatic factions in Iran that a reassessment of foreign policy, particularly regarding neighboring nations such as Saudi Arabia, is an imperative.

Such a reassessment could potentially capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s extensive development and reform initiatives to help alleviate the pressures on Iran and facilitate a shift in Tehran’s approach.

Alternatively, the calls might simply be impulsive reactions from those who fear certain factions within Iran, especially hardliners, intend to impede the new government. Such concerns arise because of the proximity of the hardliners to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and their attempts to undermine the efforts of moderates to demonstrate to him that Iran could still successfully navigate internal and external crises despite the declining popularity of the regime, as evidenced by low voter turnout in the recent parliamentary and presidential elections.

Time will tell which of these is the case. The reality is that the priority for Iran might well be to strengthen ties with neighboring countries prior to reengagement with the West.

For now, however, a critical indicator of Tehran’s intent will remain its behavior in the region, especially its stance on the stalled Yemeni reconciliation.

As for Saudi Arabia, it is certain that the leadership would welcome a visit by the new Iranian president and support Tehran if it perceives authorities there are genuinely serious about improving relations this time.

Such support would hinge on Iran demonstrating a desire to serve the interests of the region, promoting the resolution of conflicts, and working toward strengthening its relations with neighboring countries.

Such aspirations will face challenges, however, if Tehran’s regional policies remain unchanged. A new chapter in relations can only begin with tangible steps taken by Iran, particularly regarding the crisis in Yemen and the situation in Iraq.

• Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is the founder and president of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). X: @mohalsulami