The Saudi ambassador in Beirut, Walid Boukhari, receiving his Iranian counterpart, Moujtaba Amani, on Jan. 21, 2024, at his home in Yarze. Photo from the Saudi embassy's website X
Since the escalation of the war in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia has intensified its diplomatic efforts, working with international partners to secure a cease-fire agreement that would prevent the region from sliding into a broader conflict.Meanwhile, Riyadh quietly watches Hezbollah’s weakening — not unfavorably — while exercising restraint due to the complexities of regional and Lebanese domestic dynamics.Caught in this balancing act, Saudi Arabia claims to support the Palestinian issue, even appearing to slow the pace of normalization with Israel — a process that was nearly complete before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.Yet, more than ever, it seeks to wrest Lebanon from Iran’s influence and bring it back into the Arab fold.After restarting dialogue with Iran in March 2023 under Chinese mediation, Saudi Arabia aims to uphold the agreement meant...
Since the escalation of the war in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia has intensified its diplomatic efforts, working with international partners to secure a cease-fire agreement that would prevent the region from sliding into a broader conflict.Meanwhile, Riyadh quietly watches Hezbollah’s weakening — not unfavorably — while exercising restraint due to the complexities of regional and Lebanese domestic dynamics.Caught in this balancing act, Saudi Arabia claims to support the Palestinian issue, even appearing to slow the pace of normalization with Israel — a process that was nearly complete before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.Yet, more than ever, it seeks to wrest Lebanon from Iran’s influence and bring it back into the Arab fold.After restarting dialogue with Iran in March 2023 under Chinese mediation, Saudi Arabia aims to uphold the...
