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Saudis, Iran Tentatively Engage in Trying to Resolve Syrian Crisis

Like Iran, Saudi Arabia must “fish in muddy waters” for a while, and when its interests are firmly hooked, it can shape regional currents in its favor and leverage other players including Iran. The kingdom does not like playing the same games as Iran, but the stakes are too high to withdraw from engaging Iran, Banafsheh Keynoush writes for Al-Monitor.
(L-R) Nasser al-Boreique, Saudi assistant to foreign minister, Omar Onhon, former Turkish ambassador to Syria, Hassan al-Amir, Iranian assistant to foreign minister, and Shawqi Ismail, Egyptian assistant to foreign minister, talk before their meeting in Cairo, September 10, 2012. Diplomats from Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Cairo to discuss on the crisis in Syria. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS)

On Monday in Cairo, representatives from Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met to resolve the Syrian conflict. This was the second regional initiative on Syria which included Iran after Saudi King Abdullah invited Iran’s President Ahmadinejad to attend a unity conference in Mecca in August.

Iran will seize the opportunity to advance its Syrian policy. It aims to establish a cease-fire, halt foreign arms supplies to rebels, and negotiate with the opposition to build a friendly government in Syria. 

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