Iran terrified of Saudi-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council

January 2016

These days we are seeing a news-analysis approach adopted by official Iranian websites and newspapers against the Saudi-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council. Concerned and calculated in their official remarks, yet terrified in their unofficial remarks. What does such a reaction represent?

Two key elements are quite vivid: First is the impasse and deadlock. Second is the regime being terrified and also attempting to minimize the importance of this regional alliance. Iran is resorting to saber-rattling measures with missile test fires, and creating a brouhaha by firing rockets in the Persian Gulf to lift the spirits of its languid proxies inside the country and across the region. However, if the regime was actually not terrified and not facing an impasse, it could have easily responded officially with a very harsh tone against a coalition that is formed specifically against its ambitions and interests. However, despite its desperate necessity, it simply cannot pay the price of taking such a stance. One can argue that this first show resembles very well the impasse Tehran is engulfed in regarding regional developments, and this conclusion can actually be the end of this entire story. However, in response to another question, we will continue this matter in order to reach a more in-depth understanding of the importance of recent regional developments. The question is: If this coalition is truly a “political and ostensible” matter, as Iran is claiming and allocating an article to this matter in a state-run website, then what is all the fuss and fear about?

Remarks made by political analysts in regional media outlets contain the answer to this question. These reviews can be summarized as: Amongst Persian Gulf countries there is a serious concern over the future role of the U.S. in the region. They are now convinced that Washington has no appetite to defend them against Iran’s threats and attacks. Therefore, considering the fact that America’s role has decreased, new alliances are formed to allow regional countries confront such threats.

Analysts have emphasized on the fact that Iran’s sectarian policies have in the past few years have more than ever become the source of concern for Turkey, and Iran’s role inside Turkish soil and spreading political sectarianism in this country has become a serious threat. Therefore, Turkish officials are not targeting senior Iranian leaders. This shows Turkey’s understanding of Iran’s threat and role in this regard.

In addition to the decreasing role of the U.S. in the region, analysts are now paying attention to Russia’s meddling in Syria and the region, reaching the following conclusion: Russian-Syrian-Iraqi and Iranian threats have brought serious shifts in the relations between Turkey and Iran, and for the first time the deep concerns of Ankara and Riyadh have tied together. Finally, Turkish officials have taken seriously the warnings issued by the Saudis in the past 8 years over Iran. This can lead to a major strategic development not only based on an understanding of the regime in Iran, but also the fact that the Turks are feeling the threat on their borders.

Conclusion: According to the opinion of analysts in the Arab world and beyond, the Saudi-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council is playing the role of a warhead for an arrow, with member states of the coalition of Islamic countries forming the body.

This move is a step in the path of maturing the important regional polarization. Iranian media have placed Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and Syria pitted against Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States in the clashes involving Syria.

Since the formation of the Saudi-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council is based on the most dire security demands of Middle East countries, one must say its importance is actually resembled to this extent. This seriousness can be evaluated through an urgent and de facto perspective. What has been accomplished in the first step, merely by announcing the formation of this alliance, is increasing political isolation for Iran. The long term part is the military role of this alliance in the region, especially in Syria where Tehran has not been able to cloak its reaction despite all its devious methods.