How the Saudi-Iran reconciliation could transform the Middle East

How the Saudi-Iran reconciliation could transform the Middle East

Can a handshake transform a region? After long years of tension, Saudi Arabia and Iran decided in March to normalise diplomatic relations. Weeks later, the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met face-to-face - and the handshake took place. The landmark agreement entails patching up the rift by reviving a security cooperation pact, reopening embassies within two months and resuming trade, investment and cultural accords. The China-brokered deal could lead to a major realignment in the Middle East. And, while it is a coup for Beijing, it represents a geopolitical challenge for the United States. This week on Beyond the Headlines, host Ismaeel Naar looks at how Saudi Arabia and Iran were able to finally reach the negotiating table - and asks what the thawing of ties means for the wider region.

Episoder(477)

Lebanon’s civil war: The feud that never ended

Lebanon’s civil war: The feud that never ended

The Lebanese civil war that broke out in 1975 marked a dark chapter in the country’s history and would have an impact on the region for decades afterwards. The conflict lasted for 15 years, as armed m...

11 Apr 202538min

Deal or war: What’s next for Iran’s nuclear programme?

Deal or war: What’s next for Iran’s nuclear programme?

Simmering threats between Iran and the US are nearing their boiling point, after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that Tehran would retaliate if attacked. The heated tone co...

4 Apr 202520min

Where is Israel's renewed war on Gaza heading?

Where is Israel's renewed war on Gaza heading?

Hundreds of people have taken part in protests in Gaza this week, in a rare act of dissent towards Hamas. Demonstrators called for an end to the group's rule of the enclave and the war with Israel. In...

28 Mar 202523min

Is there still hope for Gaza’s shattered ceasefire?

Is there still hope for Gaza’s shattered ceasefire?

Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire in Gaza, with bombs raining down on the strip this week, killing more than 400 people within hours. Many children were reportedly among the dead. By Wednesday, ...

21 Mar 202516min

Are UK crackdowns deterring Iraqi Kurdish smugglers?

Are UK crackdowns deterring Iraqi Kurdish smugglers?

The UK's National Crime Agency has been intensifying its campaign to crack down on people smugglers operating in the Iraqi Kurdish region. Thousands of Iraqi Kurds make the risky journey each year try...

13 Mar 202524min

What challenges stand in the way of the Arab plan for Gaza?

What challenges stand in the way of the Arab plan for Gaza?

A resolution adopted by Arab states to rebuild Gaza has been met with praise across the region after 15 months of a brutal war that has battered the strip, but a difficult path lies ahead. The Egypt-l...

7 Mar 202524min

How serious is the threat of annexation of the West Bank?

How serious is the threat of annexation of the West Bank?

Israel’s army deployed tanks in the West Bank for the first time in 20 years this week, bulldozing streets, destroying infrastructure and conducting mass arrests in the process. More than 40,000 Pales...

28 Feb 202523min

Can Egypt’s proposal for the reconstruction of Gaza succeed?

Can Egypt’s proposal for the reconstruction of Gaza succeed?

After President Trump stated that the US would “take over” Gaza, Egypt has come up with a counter-proposal for reconstruction of the war-ravaged territory that would not displace Gazans into neighbour...

21 Feb 202518min

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