Impacts to Syria's Peace and to Yemen's Truce after Saudi Arabia Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran

Following the execution of Shiite Cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia and the ensuing protests against the sentence from within the Kingdom, to Lebanon, to Iraq, to Bahrain and to Iran, where violent protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi embassy, Sunni Saudi Arabia yesterday severed diplomatic ties with Shiite Iran. And this morning, Bahrain announced that it too is severing diplomatic ties with Iran.

With the souring and ending of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran - regional leaders of Sunni and Shiite Islam, prospects of an all-party agreed upon peace to Syria, appears in doubt just like a ceasefire in Yemen. If two nations have a running feud, then it is unlike they could cooperate on larger issues.

Yet, with some urging from strategic world friends, Saudi Arabia and Iran could continue talking in order to establish a truce in hostilities in Yemen and to accommodate a peace to the Syrian people. Moreover, a deepening of hostilities in the Middle East might not augur well for both nations as the price of oil becomes more volatile during major diplomatic spats and major conflicts. Also, to add another conflict to the already playing hostilities in the Middle East would not benefit either nation economically.

Therefore, some western nations or international organizations should move quickly to host both Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran in constructive talks aimed at diffusing another potentially violent episode in the Middle East.