Security Consequences of Tiran & Sanafir Islands Transfer to Saudi Arabia

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The dossier of transfer of ownership of two islands of “Tiran” and “Sanafir” to Saudi Arabia that was suspended for a while has been reprocessed.

The Zionist regime and Egypt have agreed on the new security mechanism to conclude the transfer process of ownership of the said islands to Saudi Arabia. It seems that in the course of the upcoming visit of the U.S. President to the region, the agreement will be unveiled.

Barsam Mohammadi, expert of the region’s issues

Tiran, 80 Sq. kilometers, and Sanafir 32 Sq. Kilometers are two “strategic” islands of the Red Sea. The islands overlook the Tiran Strait, which is a strategic waterway that leads to Aqaba Port in Jordan and Eilat Port in the occupied Palestine; therefore, from two aspects they have strategic importance:

First; this is the only access way of the occupied Palestine from Aqaba Gulf to the Red Sea

Second; it plays an important role in trade exchanges of the Zionist regime

The two islands used to be controlled by Saudi Arabia until 1967 but King Faisal transferred their administration to Egypt in order to enable the country during the six – day war to prevent the Zionist regime sending its ships to “Eilat”. Ever since, the islands have become a territorial dispute between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

 

Background of the Signing of Transfer Contract

The contract to transfer Tiran and Sanafir was signed in return for receiving the annual $ 2 Billion of financial aids and supply of 25% of oil required in Egypt by Saudi Arabia simultaneous with the visit of Bin Salman to Cairo in 2017. Despite Egyptian popular protests as well as the opposition of elders and elites, the Parliament and Supreme Court of the country approved it in 2018. As based on some provisions of the Camp David Accords between Cairo and Tel Aviv, the full transfer of the Islands required the endorsement of the contract by the Zionist regime, the transfer process was not complete.

 

Objectives & Interests of Tel Aviv & Egypt for Transfer of the Islands

Transfer of Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia is basically a “Zionist plan” which serves the objectives and interests of the Zionist regime. Although, such measure can apparently be a “tentative economic solution” for Egypt to sort out a part of its problems and economic hardships. In another word, the government of Egypt has transferred a part of its territorial integrity against receiving economic aids which is not clear to what extent this could be effective in sorting out the country’s internal problems. From tourism as well as transport duties and tolls points of view, Tiran and Sanafir were considered as a remarkable income source for Egypt.

It is necessary to pay attention to the following points with respect to security, political and economic objectives as well as the interests of the Zionist regime:

first; the Zionist regime agreement to transfer Tiran and Sanafir in situation when the issues related to contingent establishment of normal and diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv is in the limelight of both sides more than ever, is considered as a kind of “gift and generosity” from Tel Aviv to expedite joining of Riyadh to normalizing process. This can be considered as a big justification for Bin Salman to formalize diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.

Second; the contract will cause “the construction of a new connecting path for the Zionist regime” from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean by digging a new channel that will connect Aqaba Gulf from Eilat Port to the Mediterranean; what Tel Aviv has always dreaming about but because of Egyptian sovereignty over Tiran Strait and the necessity of the passage of ships that are willing to pass through the new path from Egyptian territorial waterways was practically impossible.

Third; “free movement without any inspection of the Zionist regime battle ships” from Tiran Strait and other regions where already considered as territorial waters of Egypt is another achievement of the said contract for the Zionist regime. While, in order to practice its sovereignty over Tiran and Sanafir Islands, and according to provisions of the international law, Egypt was already entitled to inspect or to stop all ships passing through Tiran Strait or even prevent the passage of ships under its sovereignty.

Fourth; in view of Naftali Bennett’s cabinet being in political chaos, therefore, any consent and participation of the Zionist regime in concluding the transfer process of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia and public announcement of such a news as “a major achievement in foreign policy”, can veer the public opinion and domestic as well as regional media attention from critical status of the Zionist regime and its atrocities  in the occupied territories, and thus “make credit for the critical cabinet of Bennett” to continue his tenure of office.

Consequences & Outcomes

But the important issue that requires attention to is facilitation the military involvement and presence of the Zionist regime in Tiran Strait and the Red Sea that may face “security and political outcomes” inside Saudi Arabia. Riyadh rulers should pay due attention to the issue that despite clandestine relations that Arab countries of the Persian Gulf including Saudi Arabia have with the Zionist regime, yet the public opinion and the Muslim nations of the region, even inside Saudi Arabia, do not recognize the Zionist regime as an independent, legitimate and legal entity and they still consider it as an occupant regime; therefore, it is evident to show “reaction” to elements and processes to any development which pave the ground for the presence of such an illegitimate regime in the region, and to stand against it.

Moreover, the presence of the Zionist regime in the mentioned Islands and increasing the maneuver capability of the regime from Aqaba Gulf to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean will cause a “new arrangement of the regional power balance” that through rising level of  regional tensions of opponent and hostile countries as well as groups with the Zionist regime and Riyadh, will provoke “security conflicts” against Saudi Arabia, particularly in a situation when the country is bugged in a major quagmire in Yemen.

 

Concluding Point

Transfer of Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia, is a project under Saudi Arabia’s name that serves the Zionist regime’s interests which is considered as an upheaval change in the geopolitics of the Arabic region, because through realization of an old aspiration of the Zionist regime, i.e. the connection of Aqaba Gulf from Eilat Port to the Mediterranean Sea, the Zionist regime’s maneuver capability will be increased in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

In case the agreement is finalized, military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Quds occupying regime in the Red Sea and “militarization” of the region, centered by Tiran Island, will be further increased to exercise supervision and control of Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Aden Gulf, Suez Canal and littoral states of the Red Sea. Therefore, it is necessary that Saudi Arabia assumes the responsibility of any consequence emanated from opening the way to the Zionist regime in the Red Sea and Tiran Strait right now.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST CONTENT

Zionist Regime’s Post-War Map for Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Middle East issues said: After nearly 150 days have passed since the attacks of Israeli planes on Gaza and the unprecedented genocide in this city, regional and international efforts to end the Gaza crisis have intensified.

Reasons for Inaction & Inefficiency of Intl Organizations in Providing Aid to Gaza

Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said: With the start of the Gaza war, many major powers and international organizations not only did not take honest action to support the defenseless Palestinian people, but instead, with their support for the actions of the Zionist regime, they caused their crimes to increase over the past five months.

France and the Two-State Solution in Occupied Territories

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: The announcement of France’s agreement with the formation of two states in the Occupied Territories is a measure to raise the international image of France and reduce domestic pressure on the Macron government for inaction against the Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The Prospect of US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Although most currents, politicians and even ordinary people in Iraq call for withdrawal of American military forces from their country, there are sometimes differences of opinion regarding the time of this withdrawal. On the one hand, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is very serious in demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Still, he wants to achieve this goal through “negotiation and political deal”. On the other hand, the Iraqi Resistance groups want the Americans to leave this country as soon as possible. The American side is also talking about a military withdrawal from Iraq in the next three years.

Russia’s Multifaceted Relations with Neighbors

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said: After Russia attacked Ukraine two years ago, the country’s relations with some of its European neighbors were severely disturbed in such a way that a clear future cannot be imagined for it.

Solution to Get Out of FATF Blacklist and Get Rid of Its Heavy Costs?

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The Financial Action Task Force, FATF, announced on Friday, February 23, that the name of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains on the “blacklist” of this international organization. A decision that was not unexpected for the authorities of our country. According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, one day before the release of the FATF statement, due to the current sanctions, Iran is looking for its own FATF, as it uses other tools instead of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications). On this basis, it seems that while the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon were removed from the “Grey List” of FATF in the previous reviews in June 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not trying to be exempted from the blacklist. But what kind of organization is FATF, and why are some in Iran against joining it? And what is the way out of this situation?

Loading

Últimas publicaciones

Zionist Regime’s Post-War Map for Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Middle East issues said: After nearly 150 days have passed since the attacks of Israeli planes on Gaza and the unprecedented genocide in this city, regional and international efforts to end the Gaza crisis have intensified.

Reasons for Inaction & Inefficiency of Intl Organizations in Providing Aid to Gaza

Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said: With the start of the Gaza war, many major powers and international organizations not only did not take honest action to support the defenseless Palestinian people, but instead, with their support for the actions of the Zionist regime, they caused their crimes to increase over the past five months.

France and the Two-State Solution in Occupied Territories

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: The announcement of France’s agreement with the formation of two states in the Occupied Territories is a measure to raise the international image of France and reduce domestic pressure on the Macron government for inaction against the Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The Prospect of US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Although most currents, politicians and even ordinary people in Iraq call for withdrawal of American military forces from their country, there are sometimes differences of opinion regarding the time of this withdrawal. On the one hand, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is very serious in demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Still, he wants to achieve this goal through “negotiation and political deal”. On the other hand, the Iraqi Resistance groups want the Americans to leave this country as soon as possible. The American side is also talking about a military withdrawal from Iraq in the next three years.

Russia’s Multifaceted Relations with Neighbors

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said: After Russia attacked Ukraine two years ago, the country’s relations with some of its European neighbors were severely disturbed in such a way that a clear future cannot be imagined for it.

Solution to Get Out of FATF Blacklist and Get Rid of Its Heavy Costs?

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The Financial Action Task Force, FATF, announced on Friday, February 23, that the name of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains on the “blacklist” of this international organization. A decision that was not unexpected for the authorities of our country. According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, one day before the release of the FATF statement, due to the current sanctions, Iran is looking for its own FATF, as it uses other tools instead of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications). On this basis, it seems that while the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon were removed from the “Grey List” of FATF in the previous reviews in June 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not trying to be exempted from the blacklist. But what kind of organization is FATF, and why are some in Iran against joining it? And what is the way out of this situation?

Loading