What the Saudi reshuffle REALLY means

 
CNBC, May 9, 2016 - Saudi Arabia's decision to replace its once-influential oil minister is being viewed widely as the latest effort of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power and pursue what one analyst has called a 'brutal battle for market access against arch regional rival Iran.'
In a far-reaching government shake-up, Saudi Arabia issued a royal decree on Saturday in which it announced it was replacing Ali al-Naimi, who had been oil minister since 1995 and a prominent figure in 12-country oil producer group OPEC , with Khalid al-Falih, the chairman of state-owned oil company Aramco.
The move was widely predicted as al-Naimi seemed to have lost his authority at the last OPEC meeting in April in Doha when the group decided not to freeze oil production at current levels in a bid to support global oil prices.
Then, Saudi Arabia – the de-facto leader of OPEC – had initially signaled support for the freeze agreement, only to take a last-minute U-turn following intervention by the increasingly powerful and prominent 30-year old prince Mohammed bin Salman, who insisted that there would be no deal without Iranian cooperation.
Against this backdrop, some analysts are noting on Monday that the Saudi reshuffle is not only about Saudi Arabia's strategy over oil – to maintain its market share and pressure rival non-OPEC producers rather than to support prices by cutting output – but is really part of the shifting balance of power within the Saudi monarchy and rising tensions with its neighbor, Iran.

Terror plot on Saudi carriers averted

X-ray machines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal for flights from Manila to Saudi and vice versa.

MANILA, Philippines – The threat of terrorist attack on Saudi Arabian airliners in Southeast Asia is real, eminent, and allegedly in the final stage of implementation, which reportedly includes the hijacking or bombing of Saudi aircraft, according to 'Philippine Star', February 22, 2016.
The Saudi Arabian embassy in Manila notified the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the Saudi government received from concerned authorities that the “Iranian Revolutionary Guards” are allegedly initiating and supervising a plan to hijack or bomb a Saudi Arabian passenger plane.
The STAR was able to view the “confidential information” from an airport insider who showed an “extremely urgent” note verbale from the Saudi Arabian embassy addressed to the DFA’s Intelligence and Security Unit dated Jan. 22, 2016, requesting the installation of X-ray machines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 for flights from Manila to Saudi and vice versa.
According to the note, the terrorists are reportedly in Southeast Asia. The team – consisting of 10 persons, including six Yemenis – were tasked to execute the plan.
The note stated that six of the terrorists have been identified and authorities believe they left for East Asia through Turkey on two separate flights to execute the plan.
While their names have been withheld from media, immigration officials have been alerted to their entry into the country.
The terror plot may be launched in Southeast Asia, most likely in Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines, the source said.
The Manila International Airport Authority has coordinated with the Office of Transportation Security, whose personnel are responsible for examining the luggage of passengers.
Last month, Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties with Iran after an attack on its embassy in Tehran.
Saudi also suspended all flights of its airliners to and from Iran.

Saudi diplomat: We witnessed a complete destruction in Tehran

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir

Saudi Arabian diplomats who had been based in Tehran have returned home to Riyadh with stories of mistreatment at the hands of Iranian officials, Euro News reported on January 6th, 2016.
Their arrival follows their government’s decision to cut ties with Saudi’s main political and religious rival in the region following an attack on its embassy.
Leading embassy diplomat Mohammed al Otaibi told journalists at King Khalid International airport:
“We witnessed a complete destruction, they messed up the contents of the embassy (in Tehran), then there were three days of horror which we were forced to live through until we arrived here at the airport thank God.” He went on to claim his staff had been forcibly searched.
An Iranian mob stormed the Saudi embassy, setting it alight on Saturday
Despite the breach in relations Saudi Arabia says it will not affect talks on Syria, another round of which is scheduled in Geneva this month.