April 10, 2023
2 mins read

‘US felt blindsided by Saudi Arabia reconciliation with Iran’

Riyadh and Tehran last month agreed to re-establish full diplomatic ties – after around eight years of severed relations…reports Asian Lite News

The director of the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is revealed to have expressed displeasure at Saudi Arabia’s recent reconciliation with Iran, during an unannounced visit to the kingdom this week.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the matter, CIA director Bill Burns told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit that the US felt “blindsided” by the kingdom’s rapprochement with Iran and its ally Syria.

Riyadh and Tehran last month agreed to re-establish full diplomatic ties – after around eight years of severed relations – in a deal brokered by China, which many in the international community saw as a blow to US hegemony in the Middle East and the world more broadly.

There have also been indications that Saudi Arabia is preparing to normalise relations with the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, which would also put it at odds with a key American foreign policy stance in the region.

The CIA Director and the US government’s main concern, according to the report, was that Washington was frustrated at being left out of regional developments and felt side-lined as a result.

The paper also reported that a US official confirmed that Burns primarily discussed cooperation on intelligence and counterterrorism with Saudi officials.

Following the historic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalize their relations, senior officials from both countries have engaged in multiple telephone conversations with the aim of resolving long-standing issues such as the ongoing war in Yemen. The conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people over the past eight years, is one of the most pressing challenges that the two regional powers are hoping to address through diplomacy.

India must urgently make efforts to be an honest broker in US-Iran relations

Though the Biden administration has publicly expressed support for the recent diplomatic thaw between Saudi Arabia and Iran, CIA Director William Burns’ alleged complaints during his visit to Riyadh may signal a broader concern over China’s expanding influence in the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia have been simmering since last year when the OPEC+ alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed to cut oil production. President Biden was reportedly displeased with the move, claiming it would benefit Russia, a major energy exporter.

One of the key factors in the conflict is sectarianism. Iran is a predominantly Shia Muslim country, while Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni Muslim. The two countries have long been engaged in a struggle for regional influence, with each side vying for support from other Muslim countries and populations.

ALSO READ: Iranian team in Riyadh to prepare for embassy reopening

Previous Story

US, Iran tensions escalate  

Next Story

Expelled Rep uses racial slur against Indian-American lawmaker

Latest from -Top News

The UK’s Net Zero Journey

Achieving net zero is not just a technological but also a political and cultural undertaking, writes Hasil Farooque In 2019, the United Kingdom officially committed itself to eradicate all greenhouse gas emissions

Bangladesh’s Dark Side Unveiled in Geneva

Organised by diaspora activists, the exhibit exposed rising rights abuses in Bangladesh post-Hasina…reports Asian Lite News In a bid to spotlight the deteriorating human rights situation and rising persecution of minorities in

India Outpaces Peers in Morgan Stanley Outlook

Global investment firm reaffirms India’s status as top-performing economy in latest growth outlook…reports Asian Lite News India is set to retain its position as the fastest-growing economy among nations tracked by Morgan

Debt deals, austerity still rule Colombo

IMF approves $350 million t ranche as island nation sees early signs of recovery, but challenges persist amid ongoing reforms and rising public discontent….reports Asian Lite News The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Pakistan misses export target

Pakistan misses export target for 2024-25 despite modest growth, with rising imports widening the trade deficit and prompting urgent cost-cutting measures across key sectors….reports Asian Lite News Pakistan has fallen short of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

US envoy meets Libyan commander to push for elections

The meeting came amid growing tensions between Haftar and the

Court sides with House in fight over Trump tax returns

The committee argued it needed the returns to properly assess