Tides of Change: Iran and Saudi Arabia's Naval Diplomacy

In a surprising development, Iranian Navy Commander Admiral Shahram Irani announced that Saudi Arabia has requested a joint naval exercise with Tehran in the Red Sea, prompting urgent questions about the significance of this move amid escalating regional tensions.

This announcement came just before “Israel” launched strikes against Iran on October 26, 2024, in response to an earlier attack by Iran on occupied territories earlier that month, during which approximately 200 missiles were fired. 

The Iranian attack on occupied territories was seen as retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, both of whom were in Tehran at the time.

Simultaneously, the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen continues to execute strikes in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, targeting vessels they assert are associated with Israeli occupation. 

These operations are framed as support for Palestinians in Gaza, enduring relentless devastation since October 7, 2023.

Israeli Concerns

While there has been no official Saudi comment on Admiral Shahram Irani's statements as of October 25, he clarified that Iranian naval forces are present in the Red Sea and that Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in organizing joint exercises in the region.

On October 21, the Iranian news agency ISNA reported Irani as stating that the proposal includes conducting bilateral drills alongside maneuvers involving other countries.

He further noted that “Saudi Arabia has requested that we have a combined exercise in the Red Sea,” adding that “Coordination in this regard is underway and the delegations of the two countries will have the necessary consultations on how to conduct the exercise.”

As reported in Al-Estiklal, Maariv described the Saudi-Iranian maneuvers as "concerning for Israel."

In response to the recent maneuvers, the Iranian admiral remarked that "Ayonz 2024" demonstrates the impossibility of isolating Iran. He emphasized that these exercises have revealed Tehran's commitment to establishing a foundation for peace and security in the international community.

On October 18 and 19, Iran hosted the "Aionz 2024" naval exercises, which included participation from Russia, Oman, and several other countries, some of which border the Indian Ocean. India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia participated as observers.

The Iranian admiral Shahram Irani emphasized that "Aionz 2024,” naval drills, illustrate Iran's ability to avoid isolation. 

Irani noted that these maneuvers reflect Tehran's commitment to fostering peace and security within the international community.

In 2018, both countries [Iran and Saudi Arabia], along with Oman and Pakistan, participated in a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean under the title "Alliance of Friendship."

If the maneuvers mentioned by the admiral come to fruition, they would mark the first direct military collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Iran, following a period of tension that has characterized their relationship since the establishment of the Iranian theocratic regime in 1979.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2006 after its embassy in Tehran was attacked, following the execution of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr on terrorism charges.

However, the two countries restored diplomatic relations in March 2023 through an agreement brokered by China, which ended their estrangement and led to the reopening of embassies, the exchange of ambassadors, and diplomatic visits.

‘Loss of Trust’

Zhu Weilie, director of the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, noted that while Iran and Saudi Arabia have pursued a peaceful diplomatic approach, the timing of the Saudi request suggests their cooperation may increasingly extend into military areas.

In an interview with the English-language Global Times on October 24, Zhu elaborated that the recent Saudi request reflects a dynamic reconciliation process that is advancing rather than stagnating or reversing. 

He believes that China values the potential for security cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and if the joint exercise moves forward, it will highlight a growing distrust of the United States among Middle Eastern nations.

Zhu emphasized that this possible joint maneuver warrants international attention, serving as a reminder for the global community to prioritize the interests of regional states over those of major powers. 

He pointed out that the United States has struggled to convert its promises into tangible actions, making it challenging to regain the trust of regional, developing, and global southern countries. Consequently, America's credibility in the Gulf is likely to diminish.

Indeed, any collaboration between Iran and Saudi Arabia at this time should not be interpreted as a direct challenge to the US or other regional rivals; rather, it reflects a broader effort to enhance security management in the Red Sea. 

Zhu believes that this development signifies that these two regional powers, once engaged in strategic competition, are now cautiously strengthening their cooperation following the resumption of diplomatic relations, which bodes well for regional stability.

Saudi Arabia has not joined the “Guardians of Prosperity” coalition formed by the United States, Britain, and over 20 other nations in January 2024, which has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against the Houthis to curb their attacks on vessels linked to “Israel” in the Red Sea.

Moreover, Saudi efforts to mediate a peace agreement among various Yemeni factions have stalled following Houthi assaults on ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea since October 2023.

Mutual Attacks

The Saudi request for military exercises with Iran comes amid escalating mutual attacks between “Israel” and Iran, the latest being an Israeli strike on October 26.

In a statement on the same day, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli forces had conducted “precise military strikes” in Iran.

He further added, “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” as reported by France24.

Hagari emphasized the Israeli right to respond, asserting that the country’s defensive and offensive capabilities were “fully mobilized.”

In a concurrent statement broadcast by state television on October 26, the Iranian military announced the deaths of two of its soldiers during the Israeli strikes targeting military sites within Iran.

According to the Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on October 26, “The Iranian Army said in a statement on Saturday that two of its combatants have been martyred during confrontation with the projectiles fired by the criminal Zionist regime as the Army continues to safeguard Iran’s security and prevent harm to the Iranian nation and interests.”

Defense officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran have previously discussed military cooperation, signaling that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is bringing these former rivals closer together, as cited in Bloomberg. 

Iranian media outlets indicated that a series of explosions occurred over several hours in the capital Tehran and near military bases, beginning just before 2 a.m. on October 26.

Before the Israeli strike, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi embarked on a Gulf tour on October 8, following a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Doha on the second of the same month.

In detailing the discussions, NBC News reported on October 11 that “Pezeshkian and his foreign minister urged Gulf states to leverage their influence with Washington, calling on the US to encourage “Israel” to temper its response to Iran.”

During his visit to Doha, where he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Pezeshkian warned of a "stronger and more severe" retaliation should “Israel” respond to Iran, emphasizing that while his country seeks peace and calm, “Israel” "forces us to respond."

On the same day, both the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan convened in the Qatari capital for mutual commitment to enhancing bilateral relations.

According to the Front Page, Pezeshkian “has expressed satisfaction with the growing relationship between Tehran and Riyadh, referring to Saudi Arabia as a brother nation.” 

The US further reported that Iran warned its Gulf neighbors against aiding “Israel” in a potential attack,  a caution that emerged during the tour conducted by Pezeshkian and Araghchi.