A New Stab at Russia's Mediation Role in the Middle East?

Of all the symbolic things that have happened at the SPIEF this year this one is of particular interest: yet another U.S. ally in the Middle East, Bahrain 🇧🇭, reached out to Moscow in a bid to help re-establish diplomatic relations with Iran 🇮🇷.

Manama had cut off diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2016 following a spike in tensions between Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and Iran. Bahrain had also accused Iran of involvement in antigovernment protests that swept the country in 2011.

Saudi Arabia normalized its own relations with Iran as part of a Chinа-brokered agreement last year.

Last month, during a visit to Moscow, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said the Gulf island looks forward to improved relations with Iran.

Looks like U.S. policy to rally the Gulf Monarchies and Israel 🇮🇱 around "Iranian threat" is giving some cracks.
Israel's Gaza war, Biden's "leadership" and the Arabs' own interests are taking this to a seemingly different direction.