China brokers agreement between two adversaries to restore diplomatic relations.
Entrenched on different sides on a host of issues, and in proxy wars – notably in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon – few would have believed even days ago that a rapprochement between the two was about to happen.
The United States was not involved in the deal in a region where it would see itself as the dominant power.
China brokered the Saudi-Iran negotiations – with the announcement of the successful outcome made in Beijing.
What are the implications of this agreement – in the region and beyond?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Foad Izadi – Associate professor at the University of Tehran
Hillary Mann Leverett – CEO at political risk consultancy Stratega in McLean, Virginia
Ibrahim Fraihat – Conflict resolution specialist, associate professor, Doha Institute, and author of, Iran and Saudi Arabia: Taming a Chaotic Conflict