Saudi-Iranian Reconciliation and its Impact on Iraq

Ever since Saddam Hussein’s fall in 2003, Iraq has been used as an arena of competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Proxy war, Iraq’s dependence on Iran, sectarianism, as well as Iraq’s exclusion from Arab countries remain issues stemming from the conflict between Riyadh and Tehran. Reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia provides an opportunity for Baghdad to adopt a relatively neutral foreign policy, leading to the enhancement of diplomatic and economic relations, for Iraq’s benefits.

The Abraham Accords: a Revival of Multilateralism or Polarization in the Middle East?

While Iran and Saudi Arabia are appeasing their relations, regional dynamics continue to evolve in the Middle East. This article reviews the context in which the Abraham accords have been elaborated. It measures their impact on the region in light of the recent changes, and examines Iraq’s place within this power play.

The Iranian challenge to Arab foreign policy in Iraq

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iran’s control over Iraq has had a repulsive effect on the Gulf states. Faced with the ambitions of this major regional adversary, the Arab countries are changing their paradigm and are now trying to reconnect with Baghdad in an attempt to bring Iraq back into the Arab countries’ sphere of influence, notably through the influential Gulf Cooperation Council.