In the wake of the recent Hamas-led terror attack on Israel, Saudi Arabia has reportedly shifted its focus from a potential deal with Israel to one with Iran, as per a recent report.
The attack, which resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 2,800 lives, saw Hamas launch thousands of rockets into Israel, prompting the nation to declare a state of war against the terrorist group. Israel also issued warnings to Gaza residents ahead of operations aimed at dismantling the group.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed Fox News' Trey Yingst that their infantry forces and tanks had entered the Gaza Strip last Friday. The forces were there to conduct localized raids, although a full-scale ground invasion of the region had not yet commenced.
According to two sources familiar with the situation, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already initiated discussions with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The aim of these talks is to prevent further escalation of violence across the region. However, one source indicated that the talks had been temporarily halted, with Saudi Arabia needing to prioritize concessions for the Palestinian people when discussions resume.
A senior Iranian official informed Reuters that the call made by Raisi to the crown prince was intended to support "Palestine and prevent the spread of war in the region." The official described the call as "good and promising." Another Iranian official revealed that the call, which lasted 45 minutes, had the approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Prior to the attack, Israeli and Saudi leaders had been making progress towards a deal of normalization, which would have had significant implications for the region. Some experts have suggested that the attack was a response to recent reports, including a Fox News interview with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, indicating that Saudi Arabia and Israel were nearing an agreement on normalized relations.
Such a move would have been a significant victory for the involved parties but a major setback for Iran, a long-time supporter of Hamas terrorism in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia's initial response to the attack in Israel seemed to place the blame on Israel for the conflict. The Foreign Ministry referred to its previous "warnings" to Israel about the treatment of the Palestinian people and noted that it was "closely following the developments." This statement drew criticism from U.S. officials, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, who told a senior Saudi official that "if you want a normal relationship with the United States, this is not a normal statement."
The U.S. has been working to strengthen ties between Israel and other major Arab nations in the region through the Abraham Accords, first agreed upon during the Trump administration. Signatories to date include Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan.
In August, Saudi Arabia agreed to a preliminary deal, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The deal included concessions to Palestinians, U.S. assistance in building a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, and U.S. security guarantees. U.S. officials reportedly told the Journal that the Biden administration wants Saudi Arabia to assure them that they will maintain economic and military distance from China.
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