Saudi Arabia 'in a bind' as Houthis advance in Yemen, analyst says

Cyrus Schayegh, professor of international history and politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told Al Jazeera that Saudi Arabia is "in a little bit in a panic" as it faces pressure on three fronts—against the Houthis, vis-a-vis Iran, and Shia groups in Iraq allied with Iran—while the US is neither providing enough military support nor allowing major diplomatic engagement with Iran. He said the planned meeting between Gulf states, Iraq and Iran was cancelled partly because of US pressure, leaving Riyadh in a bind that benefits Iran. Schayegh said the US under President Donald Trump is behaving differently, looking out for its own interests more exclusively and listening less to its allies, which creates huge problems for partners such as Saudi Arabia. He said the Saudis may need to assert themselves more vis-à-vis the US and pursue their own regional path, though not openly, if Washington continues to restrict their options. Schayegh said Iran's strategic situation is further improving despite its economic problems, while the current situation could mark a turning point in Saudi-US relations.

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