Abstract:
The Middle East region can ill-afford destabilising
conflicts which entail violent extremism, proxy warfare,
and nuclear proliferation. The United States has
restrained Iran‟s nuclear programme through successful
application of soft power. Iran‟s possible return to the
mainstream community i.e. opening trade and
diplomatic relations, after the nuclear deal, has caused
escalation in Arab concerns and Saudi-Iranian tensions.
This situation calls for a rapprochement between Iran
and Saudi Arabia. The implementation process of
nuclear safety and security under the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides an opportunity
to regional states to move towards an inclusive regional
forum. There needs to be a complex and multi-layered
cooperative framework to reduce the region‟s
vulnerability to shifting geopolitical preferences within
and beyond and improve regional stability.
