"Office Hours" by SAIS Europe

Episode 5: The Restoration of Diplomatic Relations Between Saudi Arabia and Iran and Why it Matters

SAIS Europe Podcast Season 1 Episode 5

This week, Office Hours host Audrey Lodes sits down with Professor Sanam Vakil and SAIS student Rana Nejad to discuss the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and its implications for the two countries and the international community.  

In addition to teaching at SAIS, Professor Vakil is also the director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. Currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the SAIS Europe Journal of Global Affairs (SEJGA), Rana was drawn to Professor Vakil’s work through her own research and publications on Iran and the Middle East.  

Saudi Arabia and Iran recently brokered a deal to restore diplomatic relations after years of significant tension. But what are the implications of this, and why does it matter to the international community? Professor Vakil, Rana, and Audrey tackle these questions, touching on economic effects, the significance of this deal for China and the U.S., and much more.