Iran Saudi 'security cooperation' Biden tells Israel to 'limit defense rights' and stop attacking Iran
As the diplomatic war between the US and Iran in response to Israel's retaliatory attack on Iran intensifies, US President Biden notified the Israeli president that 'Israel's defense rights are limited'.
On the first anniversary of the attack on October 7, President Biden avoided Prime Minister Netanyahu and called Israeli President Herzog, recognizing only 'Israel's defense rights', and Iran began direct diplomatic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, a Sunni sect that had been an enemy.
The 'new agreement system' between Iran and Saudi Arabia was mediated by China in a situation where US diplomatic warfare failed. On March 10, 2023, Saudi Arabian Secretary of State Musad Al-Iban and Iranian National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani reached an agreement in Beijing.
Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reopen embassies after seven years of severing official relations and to "respect the sovereignty of the country and non-interference in internal affairs," to revitalize the security cooperation agreement that was invalidated by the Yemeni rebels' attack on Saudi Arabia and the existing trade, investment, and cultural agreements, and confirmed "mutual security cooperation" during the Iranian foreign minister's visit.
President Biden then had a 30-minute phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 9th, and canceled the defense ministerial meeting between the two countries by stopping Defense Secretary Galland's trip to the United States to discuss the "Iran attack."
The White House announced in a briefing announcing the call that day that "President Biden once again condemned Iran's attacks on Israel, urged the resumption of diplomacy on the Gaza Strip, and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah."
Israeli Defense Minister Galland was scheduled to meet with the U.S. Defense Minister on the 9th in Washington, but Israeli media reported that the goal of the negotiations was “strengthening cooperation against Iran,” and it appears that the meeting was canceled as President Biden applied the brakes and stopped the attack on Iran.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on the same day that “the discussion was direct and very productive,” but also acknowledged that the two leaders had differences and were open to them, Reuters reported.
Defense Minister Galland said in a statement on the 9th that “at the request of Prime Minister Netanyahu, I postponed my visit until the Prime Minister spoke with President Biden.”
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of a diplomatic tour to strengthen ties with Iran’s Arab neighbors, and met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the capital Riyadh.
Regarding the meeting, Minister Araghchi said, “I hope that this meeting will lead to better conditions for Palestine and Lebanon and establish peace in the region,” Minister Araghchi told Iranian state TV after arriving.
Iran’s ISNA news agency reported on the 9th that Minister Araghchi’s regional tour was “aimed at ending Israeli crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.”
Minister Araghchi met with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut on the 4th and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on the 5th.
Regarding the Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the New York Times reported on the 9th that “Saudi Arabia and Iran have a long history of fierce competition, but they have reached a new agreement that will ease tensions in the Persian Gulf in March 2023 and open the door to high-level diplomatic contacts like the one on the 9th.”
The New York Times continued, “Senior officials from other U.S. Middle Eastern allies, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, have also recently established diplomatic relations with Israel,” and “These countries have also made it clear that they have no plans to take sides in a direct conflict between Israel and Iran by staying in touch with Iranian leaders or attending events.”
In a press release on the 9th, the White House disclosed, “On the anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel, President Biden called President Isaac Herzog and expressed his ‘deepest condolences to the Israeli people.’” The White House press release stated, “President Biden conveyed his commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist, reaffirmed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Iran and all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis,” thus only defining Israel’s “right to defense.”
The “new agreement” between Iran and Saudi Arabia was reached on March 10, 2023, in Beijing, after US diplomacy failed and China brokered the deal.
Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to “reopen embassies” after seven years of severing official ties, “respect for the sovereignty of each country and non-interference in its internal affairs,” and to reactivate existing trade, investment and cultural agreements and a security cooperation agreement that was terminated in the wake of Saudi attacks by Yemeni rebels. The Iranian foreign minister’s visit this time confirmed “mutual security cooperation.”