The hudna in the war in Yemen, which began on April 2, opened a window of opportunity in Riyadh for the resumption of dialogue with Tehran.
Four rounds of talks have been held between the Saudis and Iranians since April 2021, and the fifth round scheduled for March has been postponed, following the mass execution of 81 people, including dozens of Shiites.
Riyadh sought revenge for the continued Houthi attacks on its oil facilities, but this cruelty did not deter anyone, and in the following days reservoirs in Jeddah and a refinery in Riyadh were attacked.
Now, the silence allows the parties to return to the negotiating table.
Saudi Arabia was quick to take advantage of the truce in the fighting to hold a male exchange in the Sunni camp in Yemen.
At the summit in Riyadh, dedicated to consultations between the Yemeni factions, President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi announced the delegation of his powers to the presidential council and the removal of his deputy, who is considered a red sheet in the eyes of the Houthis.
Immediately afterwards, Saudi Arabia called on the council, headed by Rashid al-Alimi, to begin negotiations with the militia. The latter did not linger too long before declaring its intention to reach a solution in the war.
Iranian Foreign Minister al-Lahian.
The collapse of the ceasefire could reflect the negotiations in Vienna, Photo: AFP
Al-Arabi Al-Jadid reported that Baghdad was trying to set a date for the fifth round.
Despite this, there are still large gaps between the parties.
The Iranians are striving to define exactly what will be discussed, and the Saudi foreign minister has noted that in previous rounds there has been no substantial progress.
According to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry source who spoke with the newspaper, Iran is demanding, among other things, an end to the executions of Shiite detainees.
This is an echo of the affair that led to the severance of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2016.
In the same year, a Saudi cleric and opposition activist was executed.
Nimer Bakr a-Nimer was a supporter of the Shiite protest in Saudi Arabia, which broke out in 2011 and was suppressed with an iron fist, but also with economic benefits.
He bought himself the name of a talented preacher, and a follower of the minority rights in the kingdom.
Even if the demonstrations then stemmed from continued Shiite neglect, Iran was the immediate suspect in the uprising.
Another Riyadh concern concerns the presence of the Shiite minority in the northeast of the country, where the oil fields are located.
The ceasefire could collapse
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appears to have exhausted the adventurous phase of his tenure as defense minister.
Similar to the boycott of Qatar, at the end of which Saudi Arabia and its allies withdrew from their demands, the prince understands that the time has come to reduce losses - and push for a solution.
In addition, the Iranian Foreign Ministry expects to receive written positions from Saudi Arabia regarding the dialogue.
There are also those who are interested in at least temporary relaxation.
Burning oil facilities have deepened suspicions in Vienna, undermining the ability to reach a nuclear deal with the powers.
It is not for nothing that the United States has announced sanctions against Tehran's missile program following the attack in Jeddah.
But the ceasefire could collapse at any moment.
About a week ago, the parties to the war had already blamed each other for the advance of forces in the province of Marb.
In the past year, the Houthis have tried to take over the oil-and-gas-rich province, and have been halted by the Saudi coalition.
Ironically, it is precisely their appetite that could undermine Iran's interests to reach understandings regarding the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia, and move toward a new nuclear deal.
Since the early 2000s Iran has nurtured the Houthis militarily, financially and morally.
Now the golem seems to have risen above its maker.
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