'The United States and Iran'                       [Ad Dustour, Jordan]

Ya Lesarat Al-Hoseyn, Iran

Warming Iran-Saudi Ties Foil U.S. Plans to Divide Muslims

Have recent peace overtures between the Saudis and Iranians undercut Washington's plans to create a schism within Islam? According to this op-ed article from Iran's strongly pro-regime Ya Lesarat Al-Hoseyn [Blood of Hoseyn, third Shiite imam ], warming ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia mean that American plans to dived Muslims are doomed.

By Taha Yasini

Translated By Puyan Daryaban

March 7, 2007

Iran - Ya Lesarat Al-Hoseyn - Home Page (Persian)

Owing to the warnings of the eminent leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei], the period marked by the absence of new initiatives by the Arab states has come to an end. New developments in the Middle East have now begun in a more organized form. The vigilance of the region's nations and governments, especially in the face of American and British attempts to encourage division, have fortunately borne fruit. Furthermore, a greater convergence of views between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two most important powers in terms of influence over regional developments, have multiplied hopes for a consolidation of unity and the establishment of peace and stability.

Undoubtedly to a great extent, this convergence will quench the flames of conflict amongst Muslims - especially between Shiites and Sunnis - and directly reduce the wave of terrorism in Iraq.

The influence of these new developments on Lebanon and Palestine are just beginning, and the way out of political crises in these two lands are emerging gradually.

With the visit of President Ahmadinezhad to Riyadh this week and the very warm welcome by King Abdullah, these developments have accelerated, and all political circles and media - both in the region and the world - have acknowledged that the beginning of a political change is being felt.

During their talks, King Abdullah described Saudi Arabia as the second homeland of Iranians, and said that close ties between Tehran and Riyadh are advantageous to all Muslim countries. The next day, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Arab League, described Iran as an important player in the region, supported Iran's right to nuclear technology and he warned that "undiplomatic attitudes" toward Iran in the course of the nuclear dispute would seriously aggravate tensions in the region.

These positions speak to the fact that Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf States have precisely grasped the importance of Iran's strategic position and its increased influence in the Middle East and the world, and so are trying hard to repair relations with their neighbor.

This is why high-ranking officials from most of these nations have visited Tehran over recent months. In this connection, the Islamic Republic of Iran will play host to Kuwaiti and Bahraini leaders in the near future. In addition, our president [Ahmadinejad] will pay a visit to some of the countries in the region.

And all of these developments are taking place despite the Americans, who had counted on the Arab states showing their teeth. As these countries come closer to the Islamic Republic, Washington is feeling increasingly pressured, as its options narrow. This is because through its special envoy, Iran has "privately" informed the Persian Gulf states of the "costly and serious" consequences of engaging in any plan aimed at damaging Iran.

The White House's failures have gone beyond Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, because an atmosphere is emerging in the region, the main feature of which is friendship and brotherhood toward Iran. This situation doesn't correspond with America's plans and even contradicts them.

Based on this, most Western analysts see American efforts to pass a second U.N. Security Council resolution against Iran as nothing more than a propaganda campaign, the purpose of which is to shake Iran psychologically into losing its patience, acting without wisdom and surrendering. This shows Washington's clear understanding that negotiation cannot prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

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