Ahmadinejad Calls for Saudi Cooperation
The USG Open Source Center has done a report on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for Iran and Saudi Arabia to cooperate in filling the regional power vacuum. The Saudis do not seem eager for such cooperation and in fact have incisively criticized Iran's new role in the region.
Iran: Ahmadinezhad Calls for Saudi Support To Fill Regional 'Power Vacuum'
Iran -- OSC Report
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Over the last month, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad has highlighted what he has said is the emergence of a "power vacuum" in the region, and indicated Iran's readiness to fill that vacuum, while encouraging cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia to achieve that goal. At the same time, the Iranian Intelligence Minister visited Saudi Arabia to discuss "security" issues, delivering a written message from Ahmadinezhad to Saudi King Abdallah, calling for more regional cooperation to reduce Iraq's "difficulties and bloody tensions." Limited Saudi comment on Ahmadinezhad's power vacuum remarks has been negative. Ahmadinezhad Points to Potential Regional 'Power Vacuum'
Ahmadinezhad first raised the issue of a regional power vacuum in remarks to a Tehran press conference on 28 August.
In his opening statement at the press conference, Ahmadinezhad said: "I announce clearly that the political power of the occupiers is being demolished fast and we shall soon witness a big power vacuum in the region. We are prepared, with the help of our regional friends and neighbors, Saudi Arabia and others, to fill this vacuum in the interests of the region" (IRINN).
Replying to a question by the centrist-daily Financial Times at the conference, Ahmadinezhad said: "Why can't the countries in the region cooperate? I have now announced readiness and let you know that the power vacuum is occurring" (IRINN, 28 August).
Although Iranian officials have stated previously that Iran and other regional countries can ensure regional security if US troops withdraw from Iraq, this was the first time Ahmadinezhad was observed to refer to an "occurring power vacuum" in the region.
A month later while visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinezhad again raised the issue of the need for regional cooperation to fulfill the emerging power vacuum.
In remarks to the National Press Club, the Iranian President addressed what he said were distortions of his remarks by "some media," noting that he had "stressed that the Americans must leave and soon the region would face a power vacuum but Iran, Iraq, (Saudi) Arabia, and other regional countries would fill this power vacuum" (Iribnews website, 24 September). Ahmadinezhad's Special Messenger Visits Saudi Arabia
Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hoseyn Mohseni-Eje'i also visited Saudi Arabia on 10 September, delivering written message from Ahmadinezhad to King Abdallah and meeting with Saudi Interior and Intelligence ministers.
According to Iranian media, Eje'i, Iran's Intelligence Minister and President's Special Messenger, in addition to delivering the message to the Saudi King, referred to the security situation in Iraq and called for "more effective cooperation between the countries' of the region" in order to reduce the "difficulties and bloody tensions in that country." Eje'i also requested the continuation of Iranian and Saudi officials' cooperation on important regional issues including Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine (IRNA 10 September).
On 11 September, the official Saudi press agency, SPA reported that Eje'i met with Saudi Interior Minister Nayif Bin-Abd-al-Aziz and discussed "security issues between the two countries." Limited Saudi Official, Media Commentary Critical of Ahmadinezhad
Over the past month there has been limited Saudi reaction to Ahmadinezhad's power vacuum remark, criticizing the Iranian President's comments.
The London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat published a commentary entitled "Ahmadinezhad's Grave Mistake, the Theory of Vacuum Filling." The daily described Ahmadinezhad's announcement as a "new Iranian position" which contained a "dangerous colonialist tune, because it grows and feeds on the sickness of sectarianism" (2 September).
More recently, Saudi Foreign Minister Sa'ud al-Faysal, in remarks to the press in New York, stated: "...We heard the words of President Ahmadinezhad that if there is a void, if America leaves Iraq, they are willing to fill the void," and added: "Such talk is very dangerous and I think it's an unwise statement to make" (Reuters, 26 September).
Labels: Iran
posted by Juan Cole @ 10/05/2007 12:10:00 AM
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6 Comments:
Most people are unaware that Saudi is the real military giant in the region, and can easily overwhelm the Iranians in a confrontation.
The Saudis have some of the most advanced fighter/bomber jets and logistics in the world. Also, in case of Iran, they can shower any part of Iran with thousands of advanced missiles produced in Saudi itself. The Saudis have no interest whatsoever is lining up with Iran who have nothing to offer in reality.
The Iranians have hugely inflated themselves since their amazing gains in Iraq. But these gains were the result of America's lack of brains, not Iran's supremacy. Iran's main asset in Iraq, the Badr brigade is being hit hard in the Diyala province and through the large-scale sackings in the Interior Ministry. Their Mahdi splinter groups are being decimated both by the military hits, and by desrtions in large numbers since Sadr disowned them.
The "Awakening" groups, who number 30 to 50 thousands already (both figures have been quoted) and growing fast are more to do with nuetralizing Iran's allies than al-Qaeda. Their successes have had an unexpected positive response from the Shiite masses who have so far been led to believe that all Sunnis are al-Qaeda allies.
"Such talk is very dangerous and I think it's an unwise statement to make"
Hmm... I must question why "such talk" is "very dangerous" and "unwise." It would appear to address reality. Perhaps the Saudis are saying it is dangerous and unwise to point this reality out to the "occupying power"--indeed, represents a provocation in the eyes of that power? What other states have commented on this offer if any?
"According to Iranian media, Eje'i, Iran's Intelligence Minister and President's Special Messenger, in addition to delivering the message to the Saudi King, referred to the security situation in Iraq and called for "more effective cooperation between the countries' of the region" in order to reduce the "difficulties and bloody tensions in that country."
The Saudi foreign minister was on Charlie Rose recently and said the Saudi's are emphasizing cooperation with Iran around the issue of building better relations between Sunni and Shiite, and specifically de-escalating Shiite-Sunni violence in Iraq. In Iraq you have two major events in that direction - the tribal awakening and the standing down of the Sadrist militia. Both were supported by the US military and no doubt by Iran and the Saudi's as well.
However the losers in better Saudi-Iran ties would likely be the Kurds and Israel, not Iraq or the US. The problem is that's probably not acceptable to our corrupt Congress.
They are cooperating Dr. Ahmadinejad on filling the vacuum, although maybe with another messianic state perhaps.
Yet again the Saudi Government do exactly what is against the interests of the world and especially the muslims, and seeks to continue the tension.
Ahmadinejad, love him or hate him, has offered a fig leaf. These animals can say no, but they dont realise that their hatred and stubborness results in yet more dead iraqis.
"Most people are unaware that Saudi is the real military giant in the region, and can easily overwhelm the Iranians in a confrontation"
Keep dreamin my friend. In the words of zawahiri himself the saudis are a 'flabby show army'. Whats the point of having weapons when u have no one to use them. you also forget how good saddams army was in 1980, and they couldnt beat iranian determination.
You are all apparently underestimating that intangible quality that determines the outcome of many wars... Balls.
The iranians have them. The Arabs do not or else they would have thrown off the yoke of imperialism ages ago.
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