Middle East Chessboard: Why the U.S.-Israel Axis Can No Longer Dictate the Rules

The Middle East, a region long subjected to foreign diktats and external manipulations, is undergoing a significant realignment — one that defies Washington’s assumptions and Tel Aviv’s designs. This strategic recalibration is not just a product of traditional rivalries but an emerging consensus among Muslim nations that the era of unilateral Western dominance is over. The week’s developments provide a striking window into this shift — Qatar warming to Moscow, Saudi Arabia reaching across the Persian Gulf to Tehran, and Iran keeping Russia in the loop on its nuclear discussions with the United States. These are not isolated diplomatic gestures but signals of an evolving geopolitical doctrine: multipolarity over monopoly, balance over bloc politics.

The Quiet Revolt Against Hegemony

In recent years, both the United States and Israel have found themselves increasingly challenged in their ambitions across the Middle East. Yet, their traditional playbook — combining military deterrence with economic leverage — no longer yields the same results. It has become clear that even Washington's close allies are hedging their bets.

Saudi Arabia, often caricatured as America's lynchpin in the Gulf, is no longer willing to be bound by binary alliances. Its continued mediation between Russia and Ukraine and its recent high-level meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underscore Riyadh’s desire for regional autonomy. Similarly, Qatar, which once facilitated backchannel talks between the U.S. and Hamas, is simultaneously deepening its strategic and economic ties with Moscow. Even more telling is the message Tehran delivered to President Putin through a personal letter, briefing the Kremlin on its nuclear talks with the U.S. — a deliberate gesture indicating that Iran sees Russia not just as a partner, but as a stakeholder.

If this trio of events — in Doha, Tehran, and Moscow — indicates anything, it’s that the Middle East is no longer a one-axis theatre.

Qatar and Russia: An Unlikely, But Strategic Embrace

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week. The meeting, though officially described as a routine diplomatic engagement, was far more strategic in tone. Putin lauded Qatar as a “priority partner in the Middle East” — not mere diplomatic flattery, but an acknowledgment of Qatar’s outsized influence, from energy markets to crisis mediation.

While the bilateral trade volume was modest, both leaders expressed a clear desire to bolster economic cooperation, particularly via joint investments with Rosneft, Russia’s state oil giant. Beyond trade, their discussion inevitably touched upon Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Al Thani, a seasoned interlocutor in regional conflicts, criticised Israel for violating the U.S.-Egypt-Qatar-brokered ceasefire in Gaza. Putin, in return, praised Qatar’s peacemaking efforts and reiterated his support for a two-state solution under UN resolutions — a position that increasingly isolates Israel diplomatically.

This diplomatic rendezvous also carried Syrian undertones. The Emir brought a message from Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa — who replaced the long-standing Russian ally Bashar al-Assad following his ousting by Islamist-led rebels. Despite Assad’s historical proximity to Moscow, the new regime under al-Sharaa is keen to preserve those ties. “We spoke with President al-Sharaa about the historical and strategic relationship between Syria and Russia,” Al Thani told Putin. The message is clear: Syria may have changed leaders, but not loyalties. Even new regimes are unwilling to alienate Russia.

Riyadh and Tehran: From Adversaries to Regional Stabilizers

Perhaps the most symbolically powerful event of the week was Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran, where he met Supreme Leader Khamenei. The significance of this encounter cannot be overstated — the representative of a Sunni monarchy with decades of adversarial history engaging directly with the Shia theocracy’s spiritual head.

The meeting bore fruit. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed readiness to share Iran’s technological advancements with Riyadh and underscored the importance of regional cooperation over dependence on foreign powers. “It is far better for regional brothers to collaborate and support one another rather than relying on external powers,” he said, a thinly veiled jab at Western interventionism. Prince Khalid echoed this sentiment, noting, “I sincerely hope that the constructive dialogue we have had will pave the way for stronger ties between our countries than ever before.”

This détente, rooted in realpolitik, reflects an evolving Saudi foreign policy doctrine. Once the cornerstone of U.S. strategy in the Gulf, Riyadh is now actively pursuing a more diversified portfolio of partnerships — one that includes China, Russia, and, astonishingly, Iran. The shadow of the Iraq war looms large over these shifts. Arab and Muslim nations now seem to understand that sectarian and geopolitical divides can no longer justify the West’s zero-sum games in the region.

Iran’s Nuclear Calculus and Moscow’s Quiet Leverage

In a less publicised but equally critical development, Iran dispatched its foreign minister Abbas Araqchi to Moscow with a letter for President Putin. The letter reportedly focused on ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S., which have once again taken a belligerent turn with Washington threatening military action and imposing secondary sanctions on third-party buyers of Iranian oil.

Iran, however, is not isolating itself diplomatically. Instead, it is seeking reassurance and counsel from Russia, a UN Security Council member and a signatory to the 2015 nuclear deal that former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned. “Regarding the nuclear issue, we always had close consultations with our friends China and Russia,” Araqchi said. This move signals that Tehran sees Moscow as a necessary interlocutor in any future nuclear accord — one with the capability to veto Western pressure and provide strategic cover.

This triangulation — Iran, China, and Russia — forms the backbone of an alternative power axis. It’s a stark contrast to the post-9/11 era when American influence was undisputed and even hostile powers like Iran were forced to negotiate from a position of weakness.

From Fragmentation to Regional Convergence

These developments reveal a changing mood across the Middle East — one that increasingly favours strategic plurality over enforced polarity. Unlike in the past, where Muslim nations often fractured along sectarian or ideological lines — Sunni versus Shia, Arab versus Persian — there is now a visible shift toward regional convergence.

Even the most entrenched rivalries, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, are being reassessed in light of broader strategic imperatives. The Palestinian issue, still an emotive touchstone across the Muslim world, is compelling even unlikely players to speak with one voice — not in support of extremism, but in defence of sovereignty, human dignity, and regional self-determination.

While Israel and the U.S. may succeed in isolating non-state actors like Hamas or Hezbollah through military and diplomatic means, they face an uphill battle when it comes to pressuring sovereign Muslim states. These countries are increasingly unwilling to accept diktats that compromise their regional interests or their autonomy in foreign policy.

The Road Ahead: A Multipolar Middle East?

If the United States and Israel continue to treat the region as a chessboard, they may soon find that many of the pieces have moved beyond their control. Today’s Middle East is not the unipolar theatre of the early 2000s. It is a multipolar mosaic where former adversaries are engaging, new alliances are forming, and external players like China and Russia are gaining ground not through coercion, but through consistency and respect.

The Middle East’s message to Washington and Jerusalem is simple: the old order is crumbling, and any new architecture must be built on cooperation, not coercion.

This week’s diplomatic choreography from Doha to Tehran to Moscow is just the opening act. The question is whether the West will adapt to this emerging reality — or continue to play a game that has already moved beyond its grasp.

Middle East Power Play: Week of Strategic Moves

Muslim bloc reconfigures ties, while Russia deepens its unshakable grip in the region

April 19, 2025 | 17:16 IST

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