A China-brokered deal restoring Saudi-Iranian ties reflects Riyadh's fears of getting caught in the crossfire of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and could help ease regional security concerns. It also underscores Beijing's growing diplomatic role in the Middle East amid the United States' waning regional focus. On March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore bilateral relations and reopen embassies within the next two months, ending a seven-year rift between the Persian Gulf's two biggest rivals. The joint trilateral statement was struck in Beijing and signed by China's top diplomat Wang Yi, Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. The agreement affirms principles including ''non-interference in internal affairs of states'' and ''sovereignty of states,'' and referenced that Iran and Saudi Arabia want to re-implement the security cooperation agreement they signed in 2001 and the general cooperation agreement they signed in...
