Arab presence at Iranian president’s funeral
Diplomatic courtesy or sign of change?
The prominent Arab presence at the funeral of the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi sparked a wave of questions within political circles about the trajectory of Arab-Iranian relations. Is this show of support indicative of a pivotal diplomatic shift, or does it simply adhere to diplomatic norms? During Raisi’s era, Tehran’s ties with Arab countries underwent a significant thaw, marked notably by the historic agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023 that ended a 7-year rift. Relations with other Arab nations, such as Egypt and Tunisia, also progressed, leading some to hail the improvement in Iranian-Arab relations as one of the most notable accomplishments of Raisi’s administration. According to IRNA, leaders and officials from 68 countries attended the funeral ceremony for Raisi and his accompanying team on May 22, 2024, in Tehran’s International Conference Hall. Notable attendees included the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan.
By Ethar Shalaby
Journalist
Beginning of a new phase?
Iranian analysts speculate that the presence of two Arab country leaders, alongside high-level diplomatic representations, could signal a potential shift in Iranian-Arab relations. Iranian political analyst Hakam Amhaz weighs in, attributing the Arab turnout to the diplomatic efforts of Raisi’s administration. He interprets it as a sign of “the openness of Iran’s relations with all neighboring Arab and Gulf countries”.
Hussein Royvaran, director of the Society for the Defence of Palestinian Nation, shares this outlook. He elaborated on the significance of the Arab presence in Tehran to BBC Arabic, highlighting two connotations. The first is a “humanitarian and solidarity” gesture following the tragic death of Raisi and his delegation in a helicopter crash on May 19. The second connotation, he explains, is a “rational” indication, suggesting the potential formation of new “strong” relations between Tehran and certain Arab countries, with Tunisia taking the lead. He adds, “Given the vast geographical distance between Tunisia and Iran, Kais Saied’s presence in Tehran for the first time since assuming office in 2019 could signal a new chapter in relations between the two nations.”
Abdelaziz Fourati, former editor-in-chief of the Tunisian newspaper Al-Fajr, concurs. Speaking to the BBC, he characterizes Saied’s visit — one of his “few” foreign trips — as a display of Tunisia’s “political courage” in forging ties with Iran. He predicts “a notable development in Tunisian-Iranian relations at all levels in the coming period”.
Gulf participation
Relations between Iran and the Persian Gulf countries have been fraught with tension over the past four decades, dating back to the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Divergent political stances, coupled with economic and intellectual competition, have kept the two sides at odds.
Analysts highlight that the Iranian-Gulf rapprochement was markedly evident in the attendance of high-level Gulf delegations at Raisi’s funeral, with some delegations standing out as particularly noteworthy.
The presence of Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani in Tehran — his first visit in 13 years — sparked questions about a potential thaw in relations between Manama and Tehran, which are currently in a state of diplomatic rupture. These speculations were further fueled by statements by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who remarked that “there is no reason to postpone the return of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Iran,” signaling Manama’s intent to enhance ties with Tehran.
The relationship between the two countries has been fraught with tension, marked by Bahraini accusations of Tehran meddling in its internal affairs. Manama also pointed fingers at Tehran for fueling protests against the ruling regime in 2011, claims which Iran refuted. In 2015, Bahrain summoned the Iranian ambassador over allegations of interference in domestic affairs. Tensions escalated further in 2016 when Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran, following suit with Saudi Arabia after Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad were stormed.
Amhaz holds the view that Bahraini-Iranian relations need time to mend and rebuild trust. He notes that relations between Manama and Tehran had already been on a gradual path to improvement following the Iranian-Saudi agreement last year.
Amhaz shared with BBC News Arabic, “The visit of the Bahraini delegation to Tehran to offer condolences is a positive sign of Bahrain’s desire to bolster relations.”
However, Bahraini political commentator Abdulla Aljunaid offered a different perspective to the BBC. He downplayed Manama’s participation, stating that it fell within “diplomatic custom and nothing more”. He drew a distinction between politics and humanitarian norms, asserting that “all countries attended the funeral not for the person of Ebrahim Raisi, but out of respect for the Iranian president who perished in a horrific accident.” Aljunaid further elaborated, “Bahrain’s participation was to offer solace to a people enduring a tragedy, a humanitarian gesture.”
Observers noted the attendance of a high-level Saudi delegation at the funeral, which included notable figures such as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anazi, and Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, advisor to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Dr. Hesham Alghannam, director of the Security Research Center at Naif Arab University, remarked that the visit reflects the objectives of Saudi-Iranian reconciliation, aiming for a more sustainable and stable relationship. He pointed out that the interactions during the offering of condolences by the Saudi foreign minister indicated the presence of “features of a close and important personal relationship” with Iranian officials, which contribute to fortifying diplomatic ties. However, he opined that confidence-building measures might still require some time.
Saudi-Iranian relations resumed in March of last year, following the announcement of a “historic” agreement brokered by China. This deal put an end to a seven-year rift between the two nations.
Saudi journalist Mubarak al-Ati weighed in, stating that the presence of the Saudi delegation, and, by extension, the countries of the Gulf region, at Raisi’s funeral underscores the Gulf states’ commitment to “cooling differences and constructing more bridges of communication with Iran”. It’s also seen as a signal from Saudi Arabia of their intention to “build on what was achieved in building confidence over the past year,” potentially translating into tangible progress in implementing agreements, particularly security-related ones, that emerged from the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation.
The article first appeared on BBC Arabic.