Reducing the ideological-religious confrontation could free up a lot of resources and Tajikistan is trying to position itself among the top ranks in future scenarios. Greater economic engagement by Riyadh and Tehran in Muslim Central Asian countries would not be an obstacle for Beijing, whose main objective is to contain Ankara’s expansionism.
Dushanbe () – Iran and Saudi Arabia want to reopen their respective embassies on May 9, announced the director of the Iranian department for the Persian Gulf States, Alirez Enayati. A meeting of foreign ministers is scheduled as well as a visit to Riyadh by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Just a few months ago it was difficult to imagine a rapprochement between the two main antagonists in the Middle East; now, instead, it has been made possible with the mediation of Beijing, where the decisive consultations took place.
It is not known what convinced the two parties to accept a compromise or whether China promised anything in return, but the agreement has had a great resonance in all countries more or less directly interested in relations with the two Muslim powers. And one of the first to celebrate was Tajikistan, with a message hailing the agreement as “an important step on the path to strengthening stability throughout the Middle East.”
As Tajik political observer Irshod Sulaymoni confirms, the improved relations between Tehran and Riyadh “directly affect the entire Middle East, South Asia, and specifically Tajikistan as well.” In fact, one of Dushanbe’s dilemmas was orientation towards one or the other of the two Islamic giants, and now both can pay more attention to economic projects in Tajikistan.
Saudi Arabia is one of Dushanbe’s main creditors, but has so far not made any major investments in the country. Right now the distraction of Russia, mired in the war in Ukraine, could also encourage greater involvement by Muslim Central Asian countries, and the Tajiks are the first “brothers in faith” they can help. In the Islamic world, the rules of the game are changing: the extremism of the Taliban and the remnants of Isis seems to be decidedly losing importance in favor of countries capable of controlling religion with the weapons of politics.
Another Tajik political scientist, Sherali Risoyon, on her Telegram channel “Andeškada”, also agrees that the Saudi-Iranian agreement opens many possibilities to lower the level of radicalization throughout the Muslim world, and the effects will be felt especially in Central Asia. . “Since 2020 the influence of Turkey had intensified a lot, and now the coordination between Riyadh and Tehran is in a way the Chinese response,” says Risoyon, to counter the attempt to bring all the Turanic countries together. Tajikistan, with its Persian roots, is at the forefront of this new direction.
In recent years, the Saudis have helped Dushanbe with numerous humanitarian projects through the King Salman Foundation, although the trade balance remains at very low levels, not exceeding a few hundred thousand dollars. Instead, Tehran, which is also involved in charitable activities in Tajikistan, is carrying out two large-scale projects, the “Sangtuda-2” power plant and the “Istiklol” tunnel, and until relations soured in 2015, trade exceeded the 165 million dollars.
Iran is more involved in Central Asian affairs but has few resources, while the Arabs see the region only as a transit stage in international trade. The end of the ideological-religious confrontation could free up a lot of resources, and Tajikistan is trying to position itself at the top of future scenarios.
Photo: Flickr/letsgopens87
