The Saudi Discourse Towards Iran: A Study of The United Nations General Assembly Speeches

This paper analyzes the Saudi diplomats’ discourse in the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) using the theoretical framework and methodology of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in light of the Arab Gulf crisis as to the war in Yemen and Syria, and the Iranian intervention in these conflicts as well as in other countries in the region. Based on the hypothetical Saudi research work, there have been remarkable changes in the Saudi diplomats’ discourse towards Iran. (Thus this research trying to answer this question: what are the Changing Aspects of “Saudi Political Discourse” towards Iran). The main objective is to identify the basic elements and implemented techniques of discourse which mark the Saudi changing attitude towards Iran. The aim is to determine the Saudi political shifts towards Iran. This paper proceeds to signal via primary analysis of the Saudi discourse (which focuses on Saudi diplomats’ speeches at the UN General Assembly) which essentially relies on Fairclough’s methodological approach of CDA. The secondary analysis compares and contrasts selected aspects of Saudi discourse with the aim of arriving at the findings. To conclude this study reveals that the Saudi diplomatic discourse remained non-aggressive throughout these years in spite of such Iranian political problems as the remarkable violation of diplomatic norms and international agreements. Additionally the changing discourse of Saudi diplomacy towards Iran is due to the changing political behavior of Iran in the Gulf area.