Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are following nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna with great suspicion. In 2015, President Barack Obama signed a nuclear deal with his Shiite rival, then a close ally of the Sunni Gulf monarchy, the United States. Satisfaction in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi was higher when Donald Trump canceled the “worst deal” – and then support for a “campaign of maximum pressure”.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has now expressed its “concern” that in response to the sabotage at its NATONS enrichment facility, Iran is now enriching uranium to 60 percent of the 90 percent needed for nuclear weapons. It called on the United States, Europeans, Russia and China to negotiate an agreement with “strong parameters and a long period of legitimacy”.

Emirates ambassador to Washington Yousef al-Otiba appealed to US President Joe Biden to address the shortcomings in the 2015 agreement. He should use the advantage that Trump gave him with restrictions. “The region looks different today, there is a different dynamic,” he said – a coalition for his country’s official relations with Israel and the Arab states’ informal alliance with Israel against Iran.

Once again, the Gulf royal does not want to confront a fake partner. You are actively trying to increase influence, have sent delegations to Vienna and are calling on the country’s missile program to join Iran’s regional role and negotiations. They are also looking for direct contact with Tehran. Imrati’s envoys repeatedly met with representatives of the Islamic Republic.

According to a report by financial Times A high-ranking delegation from Saudi Arabia is said to have met with representatives of Iran in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on 9 April – the first since the break-up of diplomatic relations in January 2016. Saudi Arabia cut it after a mob in Tehran. The all-encompassing security apparatus had strengthened the embassy of the state. Riyadh first killed Shia religious leader Nimr al-Nimr.

The meeting was mediated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Qadimi, who paid tribute to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh in March. The FT reports that Khalid bin Ali al-Hamaidan, the head of the secret service, has traveled from Riyadh. Kadimi was the head of the Secret Service until the election in April 2020 and had good relations with Tehran.

Iran has widespread political influence in Iraq, militarily protected by Shiite militias controlled by the Revolutionary Guard. The report does not state who represented Iran in the talks. However, it can be assumed that the elite military unit was represented; It sets out Iran’s policy towards the Gulf region and Middle East countries.

In fact, Biden’s election as President of the United States has brought agitation to the Gulf region: Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, at least officially, settled their brotherhood dispute with Qatar before taking office. Imarati diplomats insist that their country in its 50th year of existence is about de-escalation. And Saudi Arabia is set to end its military intervention in Yemen.

Attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia from Yemen on Saudi Arabia’s target say there is an issue in Baghdad – the US is trying to mediate the conflict. The next round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia should be agreed earlier this week. Qadimi has also established a “communication channel” with Egypt and Jordan for Tehran.

The role of the mediator in Iraq is of interest, as conflicts in the country are carried out along communal lines, as well as between Iran and the US and their allies. And there is interest in Qadhim to be useful to Tehran – there are elections in the fall; Iran is involved in forming the government.

There was no official confirmation for the meeting on Sunday, and even a high government source from Saudi Arabia was denied – but it does not rule out that the report is true. When the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Red Sea for a secret exchange in November, the Saudi State Department insisted that the heir to the throne met only then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.