TEHRAN(Reuters)-According to Iranian media, Iran’s navy commander Shahram Irani announced that Iran, Saudi Arabia, and three other Gulf states are working towards establishing a naval alliance that will include India and Pakistan.
Iran’s emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for ensuring security in the area. The details of the alliance have not been disclosed but are expected to be finalized in the near future.
This move by Iran comes as the country aims to improve its strained relations with several Gulf Arab states.
In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a China-mediated agreement, ending seven years of hostility and highlighting the significance of regional stability and economic cooperation.
The alliance is set to involve additional states such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Pakistan, and India. Saudi Arabia’s warming ties with Iran have posed a challenge to Israel’s diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran.
Moreover, the UAE, which signed a normalization agreement with Israel in 2020, has also restored formal relations with Iran last year, followed by Bahrain and Morocco establishing ties with Israel as well.
