Saudi Arabia Steps In: Iran-Israel Conflict Breakdown

Geopolitics Lab

Saudi Arabia in the middle east conflict | Saudi Arabia's Role in the Iran-Israel War | Saudi Arabia's Role in the Middle East Conflict  As the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a key diplomatic player working to prevent a broader regional war. From Israel’s surprise “Rising Lion” operation to Iran’s warnings of retaliation, tensions are boiling in the Middle East. But Riyadh is choosing diplomacy over escalation.  In this video, we break down:  Saudi Arabia’s quiet but strategic response The Crown Prince’s direct talks with world leaders Iran’s threats against U.S. bases in Gulf countries Backchannel messages urging peace talks The future of Saudi-Israel normalization Insights from experts like Richard Weitz, Vali Nasr & Graeme Wood  This is not just a regional conflict — it’s a global balancing act involving diplomacy, deterrence, and shifting alliances.  📲 Subscribe now for weekly updates on Middle East geopolitics, global conflicts, and behind-the-scenes diplomacy.  🎙️ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:29 Riyadh’s Backchannel Diplomacy to De-Escalate Iran-Israel Tensions 1:01 U.S. Reliance on Saudi Arabia to De-Escalate Tensions 1:17 Trump Issues New Statement on Iran Attack 1:28 Saudi Arabia’s Role in Mediating Recent Global Conflicts 1:41 MBS Calls Greek PM Over Iran-Israel Crisis 1:55 Tehran Threatens Retaliation on Gulf Bases 2:31 Riyadh Advises Iran to Avoid War 2:44 Vali Nasr on Iran’s Grand Strategy 2:59 Riyadh Slams Killing of Haniyeh & Consulate Bombing 3:27 Saudi Sources: Attacks Weaken Iran, Benefit Gulf 3:39 Riyadh’s Path to Normalization with Israel 4:14 Conclusion  #SaudiArabia #IranIsraelConflict #MiddleEast #MBS #Geopolitics #IsraelIran #SaudiDiplomacy #USForeignPolicy #Normalization #IranNews #IsraelNews #SaudiNews #RisingLion

Transcript

00:00As the conflict between Iran and Israel enters its eighth day, a familiar but

00:06quite clear is now stepping into the spotlight, Saudi Arabia. Following Israel's

00:12surprise military campaign known as Operation Rising Line, the region has

00:18been thrown into chaos. Tensions are running high. Diplomacy, which was

00:24already fragile, has taken a major hit. But instead of fueling the fire, Saudi

00:31Arabia is calling for a calm. Riyadh, along with other Gulf countries, is engaging in

00:37back-channel diplomacy to contain the fallout. Dr. Salim Al-Yami, a Gulf

00:44affairs expert, says Saudi Arabia is acting with both restraint and foresight.

00:51The kingdom is also using its influence to reach out to key international

00:56players, aiming to stop this from escalating into a regional war. According to

01:01Richard Witts of the Hudson Institute, Saudi Arabia's role as a longtime US

01:07partner makes it central to any plan for peace. Under President Trump, those ties

01:14only deepened and now Riyadh might be needed more than ever. We have seen Saudi

01:21Arabia mediate between India and Pakistan during Sudan civil war and even helping

01:28open talks between Russia and Ukraine. Could it now be the power broker in this

01:34Israel-Iran showdown? Meanwhile, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is making calls.

01:41Quite literally, he recently spoke with the Greek Prime Minister to discuss the

01:47worsening situation. Both agreed, restraint is crucial and diplomatic solution must come first.

01:54On the other side, Iran is walking a fine line. Since it re-established

02:01relationship with Saudi Arabia in 2023 through a China broker deal, Tehran has taken a more

02:09cautious approach with Riyadh. But that cautious has limits. Just one day before the

02:16Israeli strikes, Iran's defense minister warned that if nuclear talks with the US

02:22collapse and war begins, American bases across the region, including in Saudi Arabia, would be a

02:29legitimate target. Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia's defense minister delivered a very clear

02:37message to Iran. Take Trump's offer seriously, it may be your best shot at avoiding war.

02:44Iran's strategy, according to Wali Nasser, isn't about major shifts. It's about patience,

02:51tactical flexibility while keeping its long-term goals unchanged.

02:56On the other side, when Hamas leader Ismail Hania was assassinated in Tehran, Riyadh called it a blunt

03:05violation of sovereignty. When Israel hit the Iranian consulate in Damas in April previous year,

03:12Saudi Arabia was among the first to condemn it and warn about the dangers of all-out war.

03:18Still behind the scenes, things are evolving. According to a source cited by I-24 News,

03:26some in the Saudi leadership are quietly satisfied with how Israeli actions are weakening Iran. But

03:33they also want progress on the Palestinian issue, possibly as a gateway towards future normalization

03:40with Israel. Let's not forget what Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Kramer Wood back in 2021.

03:49We don't look to Israel as an enemy, we look to them as a potential ally with many common interests.

03:56It's a striking statement and it shows that while war may delay normalization, it hasn't erased it.

04:03Former Israeli national security adviser, Mayor bin Shibad, believes Saudi-Israel

04:09relations are still on track though they may take some time. So while missiles fly and threats echo

04:17across the region, Saudi Arabia is playing a more complex game, calming tensions on one hand and

04:24quietly shaping outcomes on the other. Will Riyadh be the peacemaker or the power player that tips the

04:31balance? For more in-depth updates on Iran-Israeli conflict and Saudi Arabia's regional role,

04:39make sure to subscribe to geopolitics lab. Goodbye.

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