Who would have thought that Saudi Arabia and Iran would actually conduct joint military exercises! On the evening of a certain day, the spokesperson for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense announced that Saudi Arabia recently held joint military exercises with Iran and other Gulf of Oman countries. According to Iranian media reports, the Iranian Navy Commander recently revealed that Saudi Arabia had proactively proposed to hold joint military exercises with Iran in the Red Sea. The news has attracted widespread attention, as it is indeed rare.

Influenced by multiple factors such as religion, energy, economy, and geopolitics, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been fluctuating since the last century, once being sworn enemies. In 1987, due to Saudi Arabia's arrest and execution of an Iranian pilgrim who threw up at the Kaaba, Iran was extremely dissatisfied and decided to sever diplomatic relations. During the Iran-Iraq War, Saudi Arabia continuously provided aid to Iraq to fight against Iran, and Iran repeatedly threatened Saudi Arabia with "severe consequences." The 1987 Mecca pilgrimage conflict further deteriorated the relations between the two countries, leading to Saudi Arabia cutting off diplomatic ties with Iran in September 1987. In 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, which triggered a strong reaction from Iran, resulting in another severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It wasn't until 2023 that, with China's mediation, the two countries re-established diplomatic relations.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, having just reconciled for over a year, have initiated joint military exercises, a significant event that has sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East and even the world, especially against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Why was this possible? As is well known, joint military exercises are only conducted when the relations between two countries have reached a certain level. The success of the Saudi-Iranian joint exercises is primarily due to their multiple shared interests. One of these is countering Israel's excessive use of force. Currently, Israel may retaliate against Iran at any moment. To prepare for Israel's actions, Iran's foreign minister has been traveling extensively, visiting several regional countries within days and securing promises from these nations that they "will not allow their territories or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran." If Israel strikes Iran, it could likely trigger a retaliatory response from Iran, leading to a spiraling escalation of regional conflicts, which is something Gulf Arab countries like Saudi Arabia want to avoid. Driven by their shared interest in peace, the Saudi-Iranian military exercises aim to shape the regional situation and send a clear countermeasure signal to Israel.

Jointly Addressing Regional Issues. The Red Sea, where Saudi Arabia and Iran plan to hold joint exercises, is a sensitive area where Yemen's Houthi forces have been persistently harassing passing merchant ships. For some time, the United States has pursued a military solution, forming a Red Sea护航 coalition and continuously launching air strikes against the Houthi forces, with little effect. This initiative by Saudi Arabia to invite Iran to participate in Red Sea exercises will undoubtedly help resolve the Red Sea crisis. As the main supporter of the Houthi forces, Iran holds significant influence over them.

Significant Steps in the Saudi-Iran Reconciliation Process. Although Saudi Arabia and Iran have resumed diplomatic relations, for a period of time, their reconciliation and cooperation have primarily been at the diplomatic level, such as the resumption of consular operations and leader visits. Joint military exercises between the two countries are different. Given the distinct operational philosophies and incompatible weapon systems, such joint exercises inevitably signify deep mutual trust and coordination, elevating bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

Thanks must also go to Tung University! The joint military exercise is not only another breakthrough in Saudi-Iranian relations, but also a significant event in the Middle East peace process. And this must be attributed to China! Without China's mediation, there would be no Saudi-Iranian reconciliation; without Saudi-Iranian reconciliation, there would be no joint exercise. In the month of the year when Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations, China played a crucial role as a mediator and guarantor. The facts have proven that the impact of this "reconciliation of the century" on the international and regional landscape is significant and far-reaching. Under China's mediation, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in Beijing, achieving a "reconciliation of the century" after seven years of severed ties.