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News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shock waves through the Middle East on March 11 and dealt a symbolic blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the threat posed by Tehran a public diplomacy priority and personal crusade.
AFP Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman once compared Iran's supreme leader to Hitler, but has now green-lit a reconciliation deal intended to usher in a new era of regional prosperity. As a 29-year-old defence minister, he launched a ferocious assault on Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, but is now pursuing back-channel talks that could ultimately remove Saudi forces from the conflict.
Some analysts believe deal with Tehran signals maturation and realism in Prince Mohammed bin Salman's regional approach
News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shock waves through the Middle East and dealt a symbolic blow to Israel's prime minister.
The reconciliation with Iran points to an evolution of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who once compared the country's supreme leader to Hitler. The Saudi royal is now also working to mend bitter rifts with regional rivals like Qatar and Turkey