Bab al-Mandab, Yemen
17 April 2023

Characterising Saudi-Iranian relations as moving toward “détente, not a rapprochement or reconciliation”, a senior U.S. diplomat posited that “it’s a very good thing, if, and it is a big if, Iran does hold to these commitments... But it would also be a departure from 40-plus years of Iranian foreign policy operations in constantly fostering insecurity, in its near abroad, and more than its near abroad, in order in some fashion to bolster its own security”.

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