Sequential Diplomacy and Peaceful Settlement in International Law:

The Saudi–Iran Rapprochement

Reema Aldossari

 

Abstract: This article examines the 2023 restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran as a case study of contemporary peaceful dispute settlement under international law. It analyses how Saudi Arabia’s approach, based on negotiation, mediation, and good offices, operates within the framework of the United Nations Charter, customary international law, and relevant regional instruments, including the GCC, League of Arab States, and OIC charters. The article highlights the limited doctrinal guidance these frameworks provide regarding the sequencing and interaction of diplomatic mechanisms in practice. Particular attention is given to the roles of Iraq, Oman, and China in facilitating a multi-phase process of engagement, as well as to the legal and political significance of the March 2023 Joint Trilateral Statement. It argues that the rapprochement reflects an emerging model of dispute settlement characterised by sequential processes, multi-actor mediation, and the use of non-binding political commitments alongside existing legal frameworks. While this model enables flexible and effective short-term de-escalation, its sustainability remains contingent on shifting political incentives and broader geopolitical dynamics.