A message of peaceful coexistence

The visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Amman for talks with His Majesty King Abdullah and other Jordanian officials promises to open a new page in the relations between Iran and Jordan.

Not only did Zarif carry a message of friendship and peace to Jordan from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, he also called on the King to “intervene” and mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran in a bid to end their standoffs over several issues in the region, including Syria and Iraq.

Asking the Monarch to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh is an Iranian vote of confidence in the role Jordan can play in ending some of the conflicts in the region.

Iran, obviously, wants to open a new page with Saudi Arabia; it even offered to withdraw its forces and military supporters from Syria to aid the search for peace in this Arab country, and to create the necessary positive environment for a successful conference on Syria, due in Geneva on January 22.

The Iranian foreign minister also offered to supply Jordan with gas and oil and make investments in the country at a time the Kingdom needs all the regional support it can muster.

There is hopefully a new wind blowing in the region from Iran.

The new development should be seized upon and put to the use, not only at the bilateral level — Jordan and Iran — but also across the entire region.

At least it should be put to the test and given the chance to bear fruit.

Iran made amends with several Western countries on its nuclear programme. It seems to seek the same with countries in the Middle East.

While Arab states should remain vigilant, they should also be open minded, especially since there is now the possibility of bringing about the long sought-after peace in the region.