n November 5, the United States announced a new wave of economic sanctions targeting Iran’s economy, including key sectors such as oil trade, banking, shipping, and air traffic.
Khashoggi was a Muslim Brotherhood supporter – an organisation which the Saudis hate more than even Iran – and he was hoping to set up a TV channel in Turkey, a country which is aiming to take for itself more hegemony in the region, directly out of Saudi Arabia’s hands.
While the media and some of high profile Republicans and Democrats frame the Khashoggi case within the context of American universal values, the Trump administration determined its strategy in line with its arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the containment strategy of Iran, the fragile balance of power in the Gulf region, and the U.
administration would provide full support to the establishment of a Middle East Strategic Alliance consisting of GCC +2 countries in order to combat armed organizations in the Middle East, to bring peace in Syria and Yemen, and to stop the harmful activities of Iran.
’s new strategy in the wider Middle East region towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the status of Al-Quds and the Iranian nuclear deal is not comprised of Turkey.
As a result, the Sisi administration transferred the strategic Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia and supported the political blockade initiated by the UAE against Qatar.
Countries such as Oman, Kuwait and Jordan have been having second thoughts about their relationships with the Gulf neighbors as they eye to have better relations with other regional powers such as Turkey and Iran.
President Trump delivered two major victories - withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Jerusalem move - to the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu within a matter of weeks without any Israeli concessions toward peace.