As Iran’s influence in the Middle East declines, Saudi Arabia is asserting a more independent regional role, recalibrating relations with former rivals, and engaging in broader partnerships, experts tell Fox News Digital. Javed Ali, former National Security Council official, said, “Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence across the broader Muslim world.
Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power in the kingdom has also introduced a markedly different vision from that of his predecessors.” Analysts differ on Riyadh’s intentions: Michael Rubin warned that MBS’s military support for certain factions in Yemen could empower extremist groups, while Salman Al-Ansari argued, “Saudi Arabia does not base its foreign policy on ideological alignment, but on pragmatic considerations aimed at stability and development.” With Saudi forces recapturing southern and eastern Yemen from UAE-backed separatists, Washington faces a critical question over whether Riyadh’s growing influence will bolster U.S.-backed stability or reshape regional power dynamics.