Saudi Arabia proposes the idea of a "non-aggression" pact with Iran

Diplomatic sources revealed that Saudi Arabia has floated the idea of concluding a "non-aggression pact" that would bring together Middle Eastern countries and Iran, along the lines of the Helsinki Agreement.

The sources told the Financial Times that the initiative comes as part of intensive consultations conducted by Saudi Arabia with what it called "allies" with the aim of managing regional tensions once the current war between the United States and the occupation against Iran ends.

Western diplomats have revealed  that the non-aggression pact is "one of several scenarios under consideration," as the Gulf states fear that they will find themselves facing a hardline and more hostile "Islamic regime" on their doorstep once the U.S. military presence in the region is reduced.

 Diplomats said the pact was the "best" way to avoid future conflicts, while providing guarantees to Tehran that it too would not be attacked, while Washington and Tehran are holding backdoor talks to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

However, these negotiations focused exclusively on Iran's nuclear program, ignoring its arsenal of missiles and drones and support for regional proxies, which they say are the main concerns of Arab states.

The Financial Times quoted an Arab diplomat as saying that the Helsinki-inspired model of the pact "will be welcomed by most Arab and Muslim countries and even Iran itself," which has long sought to convince the West that the region should let its own affairs.

"It all depends on the parties to the charter, because in the current climate, it is impossible to bring Iran and the occupying power together, and without Tel Aviv, it may be counterproductive, because Iran is the biggest source of conflict after Iran, but Iran remains, and this is what pushes Saudi Arabia to move forward," he said.

The Helsinki Accords paved the way for ending the Cold War

The Helsinki Pact, signed on August 1, 1975, emerged as one of the most important diplomatic milestones that sought to ease tensions between East and West, bringing together 35 countries – including the United States, Canada, the Soviet Union, and most of Europe – around a single document aimed at regulating security and cooperation on the European continent.

The agreement established the principle of recognition of European borders after World War II, including the Soviet Union's control of the Baltic states, while emphasizing respect for national sovereignty, refraining from the use of force, and adopting peaceful solutions to conflicts.

It also focused on promoting trade exchange, developing scientific and technological cooperation, and protecting the environment across borders, in an effort to create a network of common interests that would alleviate the confrontation between the two camps.

Human rights were  the most sensitive dimension, with states committing to respect fundamental freedoms, facilitating travel and family reunification, opening the door to international monitoring of the behavior of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.

Outcome of the Helsinki Agreement

The Soviet Union gained official recognition of its borders and influence in Eastern Europe, a major political gain at the time, and at the same time  opposition movements in Eastern Europe used the terms of the agreement to hold communist regimes accountable, which later contributed to the rise of liberation movements and the disintegration of the Eastern Bloc.

The agreement paved the way  for the establishment of the organization, which later became a major platform for security and political dialogue on the continent, so it can be said that  the Helsinki Accords did not end the Cold War, but they rewrote its rules, and opened the door to a new phase of interaction between East and West, making it one of the most important political documents of the twentieth century.

In this sense, Riyadh sees the Helsinki Agreement, which eased the intensity of the Cold War in Europe during the 1970s, as a viable model, especially with the region's expectations of the emergence of postwar Iran in a situation that may pose a threat to its neighbors, according to many international think tanks.