TEHRAN (Bazaar) – Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, says good relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia will make it politically easier for the Biden administration to reach any new agreements with Iran.
“Saudi Arabia made a basic decision, reversing some earlier policies, that its interests will be best served by reducing tensions with its neighbors, especially Iran,” Pillar told Bazaar News Agency.
Following is the full text of the interview.
Q: Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with his Saudi counterpart and the Crown Prince during his trip to Saudi Arabia. What was the importance of the trip?
A: It evidently was the first exchange at this level since the Chinese-brokered resumption of diplomatic relations. It shows that there is some momentum to the resumption of relations.
Q: While some argue that de-escalation between Tehran and Riyadh is tactical, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a meeting with Amir-Abdollahian that Riyadh's approach to Tehran is strategic. What is your assessment of his words?
A: Saudi Arabia made a basic decision, reversing some earlier policies, that its interests will be best served by reducing tensions with its neighbors, especially Iran. That is a strategic decision.
Q: After Amir-Abdollahian’s meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan had a call with the American Foreign Minister. Some people said that this phone call was due to America's concern about improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. What is your assessment?
A: The U.S. administration had spoken positively about the resumption of Saudi-Iranian relations, so it is not so much a matter of "concern." But the US would be interested in learning whatever it can about the substance that is discussed between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Q: The trip took place while Iran and America have reached an agreement regarding the exchange of prisoners. What does this coincidence mean?
A: There is not a direct relationship. But a warming of relations between Riyadh and Tehran certainly is relevant to the US's own policy decisions about relations with Iran and relations with the Gulf countries generally. A good relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia will make it politically easier for the Biden administration to reach any new agreements with Iran.
Q: Considering the increase of American forces in the Persian Gulf and the possibility of increasing tensions between Iran and the United States, what effect will this trip have on preventing the escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington?
A: It may help to prevent an escalation of tensions, in the sense that there is less likelihood of a recurrence of incidents such as the attack on Saudi oil facilities in 2019.
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