‘Solution possible for Saudi-Iranian rivalry’ – The Peninsula
A lecture held by the Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) recently, entitled “managing the Saudi-Iranian rivalry” offered possible solutions to the political tensions between the two countries.Dr Ibrahim Fraihat, a Senior Fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution’s Doha Center delivered the lecture, which was part of GU-Q’s monthly dialogue series. The series is sponsored by the GU-Q’s research institute, the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS).“Both sides have security fears,” said Dr Fraihat, adding that the issue “goes well beyond the notion of a sectarian rivalry.” Dr Fraihat is also an expert in international conflict resolution and an adjunct assistant professor at GU-Q.“Don’t be led or misled by the obvious positions of the two countries, because you will only see conflict. However, the positions are actually much more related,” he said. “They are both responding to security needs, as well as economic and environmental needs. Engage the security and business and define other areas of shared needs,” he urged.