This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Saudi Arabia’s motivations for pursuing rapprochement with Iran, focusing on the interplay of domestic, regional, and international factors. At the outset it must be emphasized that the 2023 Saudi-Iran agreement, brokered by China, has often been characterized as a form of détente rather than rapprochement by prominent scholars. While the deal includes the restoration of diplomatic ties and a mutual commitment to avoid escalation, it stops short of signaling genuine reconciliation or deep trust-building. Instead, it reflects a pragmatic easing of hostilities—a calculated move to manage tensions rather than resolve the underlying ideological and geopolitical rivalry. As one Saudi expert put it: There’s no rapprochement.