SpyTalk

SpyTalk

Bridge over Troubled Gulf Waters

High anxiety over Saudi-Iran rapprochement is unwarranted, says former CIA Middle East hand Douglas London

Douglas London's avatar
Douglas London
Mar 14, 2023
∙ Paid

Share

THE RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC TIES BETWEEN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA has garnered curious allusions of doom and gloom, if not outright shock and awe, over Israel’s back channel security dialogue with the Kingdom,  not to mention damage to U.S. interests in the region. The New York Times captured it as “the topsiest and turviest of developments anyone could …

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Jeff Stein.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
Douglas London's avatar
A guest post by
Douglas London
Douglas London (@douglaslondon5) is author of “The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence.” He served 34 years with the CIA in the Middle East, South and Central Asia and Africa, including three assignments as a Chief of Station.
Subscribe to Douglas
© 2026 Jeff Stein · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture