China has helped Iran and Saudi Arabia resume diplomatic ties after seven years. Andrew Parasiliti wrote about the significance of this deal on Al-Monitor (1):

“It’s hard to overstate the impact of resumed diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia — and that it was China that made it happen.

China has until now had a business- and energy-first approach to the Middle East, preferring to abstain from the diplomatic and security charge held, mostly unchallenged, by the United States.

Not anymore.

A Saudi-Iran rapprochement is one for the diplomatic A team. It’s a major step to de-escalate the most critical fault line between the Gulf’s largest and most powerful countries.”

Marwan Bishara wrote about the deal on Al Jazeera (2):

“…I believe it is in everybody’s best interest if the protagonists try a hands-off approach to regional affairs, especially as their regional overreach allowed foreign powers to exploit and aggravate their conflict.

Indeed, Riyadh and Tehran must now take a common, firm stand on foreign interference, especially Western support for Israel’s colonialism and apartheid – predictably the only country to openly oppose the new Gulf détente, which it is, no doubt, determined to sabotage.

They must also reject all attempts by global powers to intervene directly or through proxies in the Middle East. That includes China.

Beijing, which mediated between Riyadh and Tehran and hosted the final celebratory handshake, has emerged as the biggest winner of the new deal. It will gain greater credibility and prestige as a responsible global player, having helped resolve a complicated conflict in a tough region considered part of the US area of influence.”

Here are some other positive reactions to this deal (3):

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric:

“Good neighbourly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are essential for the stability of the Gulf region.

The Secretary-General reiterates his readiness to use his good offices to further advance regional dialogue to ensure durable peace and security in the Gulf region.”

Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman:

“This is a win-win for everyone and will benefit regional and global security. We hope, in the longer term, there’s also potential for increasing economic benefits for all.”

Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to United Arab Emirates President:

“We welcome the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations, and we hail the Chinese role in this regard.

The UAE believes in the importance of positive communication and dialogue among the countries of the region towards consolidating the concepts of good neighbourliness and starting from a common ground to build a more stable future for all.”

In the USA, the reactions have been mixed (3, 4, 5):

White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby:

“Generally speaking, we welcome any efforts to help end the war in Yemen and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region. De-escalation and diplomacy together with deterrence are key pillars of the policy President Biden outlined during his visit to the region last year.

The Saudis did keep us informed about these talks that they were having, just as we keep them informed on our engagements, but we weren’t directly involved.”

Former national security adviser John Bolton:

“We’re sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea, and several others, are moving to shore up their relations and threaten us in a lot of different places.”

“It’s an indication that the Saudis and others are trying to hedge their bets with China and Russia, because they don’t think the United States has the resolve and the fortitude necessary to do what they need to do to protect the world against Iran and its intentions.“

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Political Scientist at Rice University’s Baker Institute in the United States:

“Further regional instability is not in Saudi or Iranian interest at the moment.”

“And for the Chinese to have addressed this at a time when the US stance toward Iran is becoming more hawkish sends a powerful signal in itself.”

Ahmed Aboudouh, a nonresident fellow with the Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council:

“For Saudi Arabia and Iran, China’s ostensible commitment to the ‘non-interference’ principle and its ‘non-alignment’ regional policy attached great credibility to its position as a broker. To be clear, both countries seem united in their grievances towards the Biden administration, albeit at different levels. Nonetheless, despite Iraq’s hosting the talks for the most part, China’s desire to take the lead has met Riyadh and Tehran’s willingness to hand it a diplomatic win – a stark indication of China’s growing influence over the two biggest powers in the Gulf.

It remains to be seen whether the Chinese mediation will hold in the future and, indeed, cover other regional conflicts. Nevertheless, China has just left the United States with a bleeding nose in the Gulf.”

In Israel, the blame game started quickly. A senior official who was part of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s entourage during his visit to Italy blamed the weakness of previous Israeli government and Biden administration for the situation. He said, “There was a feeling of American and Israeli weakness, so Saudi Arabia turned to other channels.” The official falsely claimed that the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran began during previous Israeli government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, even though the talks actually started already during Netanyahu’s previous government. Bennett and Lapid blamed Netanyahu for the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They argued that it was “the result of diplomatic neglect, general weakness and internal conflict in the country since the current government was established on December 29”. (6)

References:

1) “China leaps into Saudi-Iran diplomacy as nuclear talks move” Al-Monitor 10.3.2023

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/china-leaps-saudi-iran-diplomacy-nuclear-talks-move

2) “The Saudi-Iran détente and its regional implications” Al Jazeera 12.3.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/3/12/the-saudi-iran-detente-and-its-regional

3) “Reaction to Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming ties – Quotes” Middle East Monitor 10.3.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230310-reaction-to-iran-and-saudi-arabia-resuming-ties-quotes/

4) “Bolton warns US against ‘sitting still’ as China and Russia grow closer” The Hill 12.3.2023

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3895810-bolton-warns-us-against-sitting-still-as-china-and-russia-grow-closer/

5) “Experts react: Iran and Saudi Arabia just agreed to restore relations, with help from China. Here’s what that means for the Middle East and the world” Atlantic Council 10.3.2023

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react/experts-react-iran-and-saudi-arabia-just-agreed-to-restore-relations-with-help-from-china-heres-what-that-means-for-the-middle-east-and-the-world/?mkt_tok=NjU5LVdaWC0wNzUAAAGKa76tmpn6g7mcQ4U3Fbq6DzuwB19gwPTALG-1bnEnafrjecLJfdR3M-fR-pxCg0uCgH2EAPq8GJOP206NEl05KaF4QqpaZd6rLPA_aNEBUdo#Panikoff

6) “Top official blames weakness of Biden, Bennett-Lapid government for Saudi-Iran deal” The Times of Israel 10.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-israeli-official-blames-weakness-of-biden-bennett-lapid-for-saudi-iran-deal/