Saudi Arabia is majority Sunni and Iran is ruled by the Shia creed. Saudi Arabia does have a Shia minority, and this is actually one of the many long-running grievances between the two countries. So Saudi Arabia has always accused Iran of staring trouble in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia where the Shiites mainly reside.
Iran and Saudi Arabia surprised many governments in March when they announced an agreement to restore diplomatic relations–ending a seven-year freeze.
Just as surprising: The deal was brokered by China.
Bloomberg correspondents Golnar Motevalli and Sam Dagher join this episode to explain how this landmark agreement came together and what each side hopes to gain from it.
And Jonathan Fulton, a nonresident senior fellow for Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, talks about China’s critical role in this deal and the nation’s growing ambitions as a global power broker.
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