Saudi Arabia – Page 4 – Seyed Hossein Mousavian

Ending the Iran-Saudi Cold War

Posted on September 19, 2016

Saudi leaders must understand that Iran, regardless of its government, will always play a major regional role. This is primarily due to its structural characteristics, its strategic location and size, its demographics and natural resources, and a millennia-spanning history of unbroken statehood. Today, Iran is a nation of 80 million, endowed with the world’s largest combined oil and natural gas reserves, an increasingly diversified economy, self-reliance in key economic and security matters, and a highly educated population.

“Ending the Iran-Saudi Cold War,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Sina Toossi, LobeLog, September 19, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Who Benefits Most From a Sabotaged Iran Nuclear Deal

Posted on September 8, 2016

Beyond the personal interests of the states mentioned above, a JCPOA failure will serve to diminish the pragmatic minds in Tehran and Washington that negotiated it and bolster the voices of the more polarized camps on both sides that prefer a hostile U.S.-Iran relationship. The hardline opponents of the JCPOA in the U.S. Congress, Israel and Saudi Arabia will gain legitimacy and boost their respective standings. In Iran, mistrust of the U.S. will be reaffirmed in the once-hopeful masses and opportunities for further dialogue will disappear.

“Who Benefits Most From a Sabotaged Iran Nuclear Deal,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Hesam Rahmani, The Huffington Post, September 7, 2016.

Articles, Publications

From Iran to Nice, We Must Confront All Terrorism to End Terrorism

Posted on July 22, 2016

Riyadh’s now open alliance with the MEK only solidifies its position as the sponsor of yet another extremist group that espouses perverted views of Islam. The barbaric Nice terrorist attack— later claimed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State — and Prince Faisal’s endorsement of the MEK have a common denominator: a connection to Saudi Arabia.

“From Iran to Nice, We Must Confront All Terrorism to End Terrorism,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, July 21, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Saudi Arabia Is Iran’s New National Security Threat

Posted on June 5, 2016

The relationship between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries — a political and economic union consisting of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates — is on a dangerous trajectory and risks leading to direct confrontation. During a recent seminar in Europe, a European diplomat who has made the case to officials in Riyadh for Saudi-Iran rapprochement starkly told me that the regional situation was even comparable to pre-World War I Europe.

“Saudi Arabia Is Iran’s New National Security Threat,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, June 3, 2016.

Articles, Publications

How Obama can push the Saudis to talk to Iran

Posted on April 20, 2016

Following the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action last year, the United States has been attempting to assure its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allies that this will not open the way to Iranian-US rapprochement. “My view has never been that we should throw our traditional allies overboard in favor of Iran,” President Barack Obama has publicly declared. In this vein, Obama is scheduled to soon arrive in Saudi Arabia, which is set to host a GCC summit, gathering the organization’s other member states, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“How Obama can push the Saudis to talk to Iran,” Hossein Mousavian, Al Monitor, April 19, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Saudi-Arabien und Iran sollten zusammenarbeiten (In German)

Posted on April 4, 2016

The Middle East is facing a total collapse. An ideology of terror is spreading, and dysfunctional Arab governments do not offer their people dignified alternatives to extremism. The decay is embedded in two smoldering crises: the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has made millions refugees and contributed to regional instability for decades; and the conflict between Saudi Arabia, a leading Sunni power, and Iran, a leading Shia power, which has entangled civil war and sectarianism in the region.

Saudi Arabia and Iran: Saudi Arabia and Iran: An Improbable Detente?

Posted on February 21, 2016

Ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, a number of factors have fueled the tensions between Tehran and Riyadh, especially the Iraqi invasion of Iran in 1980. In invading Iran, Saddam Hussein sought to disintegrate the Islamic Republic – and inflicted tremendous suffering on the Iranian people.

English Version

German Version

“Saudi Arabia and Iran: Saudi Arabia and Iran: An Improbable Detente?” An Improbable Detente?” APuZ, February 22, 2016.

Articles, Publications

The Iran-Saudi Conflict and the End Game

Posted on February 21, 2016

“Iran has to choose whether it wants to live by the rules of the international system, or remain a revolutionary state committed to expansion and to defiance of international law,” Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel al Jubeir stated recently in an op-ed in the New York Times.

“The Iran-Saudi Conflict and the End Game,” Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Mehrdad Saberi, Harvard Belfer Center, February 18, 2016.

Articles, Publications

7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria

Posted on February 15, 2016

Saudi Arabia has offered to deploy ground forces in support of the US-led coalition’s fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria — apparently with American support. Such a move will undoubtedly make the conflict even more nightmarish.

“7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria,” Hossein Mousavian, Al Monitor, February 12, 2016.

Interviews

America is untrustworthy, after every step forward comes a step back – Iranian ex-ambassador

Posted on January 25, 2016

Freed from decades of economic sanctions, Tehran has got doors open for new opportunities for its businesses to prosper. With economic growth comes the political, as Iran is asserting its role as an influential player on the international scene – and, especially, in the Middle East. However, with some neighbors not too happy with Iran’s deal, and America’s constantly changing partner-or-enemy attitude, how can it influence what’s going on in the region right now? And, can it have an impact on the global balance of power? We ask veteran Iranian diplomat – ambassador Seyyed Hossein Mousavian is on Sophie&Co.

“America is untrustworthy, after every step forward comes a step back – Iranian ex-ambassador,” Russia Today, January 25, 2016.