Iran Makes This the Moment for a US-Israel-Saudi Grand Bargain
Picture a joint naval flotilla patrolling the Red Sea and Gulf, defusing an insidious threat to not just the Middle East, but the world. It's long overdue.
Let’s make a deal.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
While Americans are rightly focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the global challenge posed by China, we must not forget the insidious threat Iran poses to the Middle East and globally. This ranges from its sponsorship of Hezbollah, the best-armed terrorist organization in the world, to its support of Houthi rebels in Yemen, its continuing attempts to develop unauthorized nuclear weapons, and the recent swap of billions of dollars in sanctioned funds for five American hostages.
But two recent diplomatic initiatives may come together to help create a strong coalition against the rotten theocracy in Tehran. There are serious conversations about formal security pacts between the US and both Saudi Arabia and Israel. Any such double deal would also likely involve the Saudis recognizing Israel, a once-unthinkable breakthrough, and a similar security pact between the US and the United Arab Emirates.