Iran tried to intimidate Saudi Arabia - it may have made Riyadh more powerful instead - opinion

Iran may have inadvertently bolstered Saudi Arabia's position instead of intimidating it, according to an opinion piece. The current conflict is demonstrating the limitations of Iran's strategy, which aimed to make the Strait of Hormuz more volatile and push up oil prices, thereby affecting President Trump through higher gas prices.

While Iran can make oil more expensive, the U.S. blockade significantly hampers its own crude exports. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's infrastructure allows it to bypass Hormuz and its regional position is becoming increasingly valuable. This shift benefits Saudi Arabia, as it gains options that were not available before.

Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman has been strategically building relationships with various powers to create alternatives for Riyadh and make America compete for Saudi cooperation. Iran's actions are enhancing the value of Saudi Arabia in the regional architecture that Washington seeks.

The U.S. now seeks Saudi support in building a regional order that limits Iran's influence, along with potential normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. President Trump sees a larger opportunity in this arrangement, which benefits all parties involved. This development puts Iran's strategy at a disadvantage, as Saudi Arabia becomes indispensable to Washington's goals, making it harder for MBS to accept the arrangement easily.