Saudis bring Iran, US closer together

The ‘Arab awakening’ has triggered a curious line-up on the Middle Eastern political landscape. Although implacable adversaries, US and Iran find themselves on the same side for the fourth time during the past six weeks - on Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and now on Bahrain. That is, cutting through the thickets of rhetoric, both countries are essentially seeking a democratic transformation of the Arab Middle East - peacefully without impairing regional stability. Of course, US and Iran are at loggerheads and given the domestic political considerations, Barack Obama can move only very cautiously on changing course on Iran - in his first term, at least - but it cannot be that he hasn’t noticed Iran’s responsible behaviour through the past 6 weeks of great turbulence in the Arab world. My article on Iran’s response to the Saudi intervention in Bahrain, which is no doubt a highly provocative and dangerous move against Tehran - has been featured by today’s Asia Times under the title “Saudis bring Iran, US closer together”...