ADDIS ABABA: The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday offered guarded appreciation to US adversary China for brokering an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, saying it could benefit the region.
“From our perspective, anything that can help avoid conflict, reduce tensions and deter in any way dangerous and destabilizing actions by Iran is a positive thing,” Blinken told media on a visit to Ethiopia.
Saudi Arabia and Iran on Friday announced they were restoring diplomatic relations, and much of the world was stunned — not only because of the breakthrough after years of mutual hatred, suspected attacks, and espionage between the two countries but because of who brokered the deal: China.
Taking up a specific role that the US could not have fulfilled, this was Beijing’s first foray into Middle East mediation, an area that Washington mainly occupied for the past few decades.
Saudi-Iran deal and US influence in Middle East
Given Saudi Arabia’s historically close partnership with the United States, China’s involvement raised eyebrows. However, that relationship has been strained by issues including human rights and oil production cuts approved last year by the OPEC+ cartel.
“The US and China are both essential partners… We certainly hope not to be a party to any competition or dispute between the two superpowers,” the official said Wednesday.
The official said that US officials were briefed before the Saudi delegation travelled to Beijing and before the deal was announced.
