Saudi prince's unexpected support for Iran raises questions about middle east plans
Crown prince of Saudi Arabia made surprising statements supporting Iran and criticizing Israel at recent summit. This dramatic shift from his previous stance suggests major changes in Saudi Arabiaʼs regional strategy
At a recent islamic-nations gathering in Riyadh Mohammed bin Salman made eye-catching statements that left many scratching their heads: he asked for Iranʼs sovereignty protection and called Israeli actions in Gaza genocide
The crown princes words dont match his past views. Back in 2017‚ he questioned how anyone could talk with Iranʼs regime — now hes speaking about them as family members. After China helped fix Saudi-Iran relations last spring things stayed cool between them but now theres a different tone
- Possible deal with upcoming Trump administration
- Public anger about Gaza situation
- Focus on keeping Saudi projects safe
- New way to handle regional issues
How do you have a dialogue with a regime built on an extremist ideology
The mega-projects (like the new-age city Neom) need peace to work well. Mohammed bin Salman seems to be doing what Saudi kings did before: trying to keep trouble away from home; this time without giving out money bags. Its more about protecting whats inside than changing things outside
The crown princes choice of words at the summit shows big changes in how he wants to deal with nearby countries. Instead of trying to control everything around — which didnt work well before — hes now putting Saudi interests first: keeping the kingdom stable while others deal with their problems
The shift might look like moving closer to Iran but its really about moving towards a safer Saudi Arabia. With billions invested in local development Mohammed bin Salman needs calm neighbors more than new friends; even if that means working with old rivals
