Significant Changes in Saudi Arabia`s Foreign Policy towards Iran (2021) Reasons and Motivations

The recent and significant shifts in Saudi foreign policy from an aggressive stance towards Iran and Syria to a policy of dialogue and engagement especially after the Democrats came to power in USA, raise questions about the reasons of the shifts. While Saudi officials have previously declared that the negotiation with Iran is useless and not possible, today they try to recover their relations with Tehran. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate the foreign policy of these two major poles of the Islamic world, and therefore, seeks to elaborate the reasons of the conspicuous and significant shifts of Saudi foreign policy towards Iran.

As a methodological framework, the study uses the method of document content analysis. The opinions and views of experts as well as the official and unofficial positions of Riyadh have shaped the basis of our analysis.

The Democrats' rise of power in USA as well as Iran's determination on its policies have changed Saudi foreign policy.

Numerous factors have led to this change in Saudi Arabia's approach, including accepting Iran's regional power and surrendering to the realities of new regional circumstances.