De-securitisation and Pragmatism in the Persian Gulf: The Future of Saudi-Iranian Relations

Abstract

Since 1979, relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have oscillated between periods of overt hostility and apparent rapprochement, yet since 2003 the two have engaged in a vitriolic competition that has spread across regional affairs, to devastating effect in Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. Central to much of this are efforts to securitise the other to external audiences, discursively presenting the rivalry in the language of security. Yet despite the two presenting competing claims to Islamic legitimacy and leadership, there are strong pragmatic reasons for the two states to engage with one another. Driven by political and economic concerns -notably around Saudi Arabia meeting Vision 2030 targets and Iran circumventing the damage done by the sanctions regime -the two states could gain more from working with one another rather than being rivals. Underpinning this, however, is a need to engage in de securitization moves, reducing tensions between the two through framing relations in terms of 'normal' politics rather than the language of security.

Conclusion

“…As a recent piece published in The International Spectator observes, in a pragmatic sense, a thaw in relations is desirable for both states and their aspirations for political, social and economic transformations. 1 In Iran, years of crippling sanctions from the Trump presidency's campaign of 'maximum pressure' hit the economy hard. Leaving aside the thorny question of the nuclear programme, Iran's energy infrastructure requires large-scale financial investment.…”