The sands of the Middle East are stirring once again. Reports of Saudi Arabia conducting airstrikes on Iranian territory signal more than just military news; they represent a historic shift in the regional order.
Until now, Saudi Arabia and Iran have faced each other with sharpened swords, carefully avoiding direct confrontation. Instead, they have vied for influence through proxy wars, information warfare, oil price battles, and sectarian conflicts. However, the situation is changing. The UAE's retaliatory strikes, controversies surrounding the infiltration of Kuwait's Revolutionary Guard, and the movements of Iranian-aligned militias across Iraq and Syria indicate that the entire Middle East is transforming into a vast powder keg.
This development is particularly significant as it suggests a gradual fracture in the U.S.-led security order in the region. Saudi Arabia is no longer merely a oil-rich nation under the American umbrella; it is evolving into a strategic state that simultaneously pursues advancements in AI, high-tech industries, NEOM City, global logistics, tourism, and finance. For Saudi Arabia, the threats posed by the Revolutionary Guard's drones and missiles are perceived as existential challenges to its regime and future industries.
More importantly, immediately following the airstrikes, Saudi Arabia reopened diplomatic channels in an attempt to ease tensions. This indicates that both sides recognize the reality that “if it escalates, everyone will perish.”
Iran holds the key to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy. It possesses a vast network of proxy forces, including the Revolutionary Guard, drones, missiles, Hezbollah, and Houthi rebels. In contrast, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states wield significant financial power that drives oil, LNG, finance, AI investments, maritime logistics, and the global energy market.
If the conflict between these two sides spirals out of control, the repercussions will not be confined to the Middle East. The potential for skyrocketing international oil prices, LNG shocks, soaring maritime insurance rates, supply chain disruptions, energy crises for AI data centers, and global stock market crashes looms large, affecting semiconductor factories in Seoul, precision equipment firms in Tokyo, manufacturing in India, and the chemical industry in Europe.
At this juncture, I have long proposed a critical idea: the Middle East must move beyond mere ceasefires or diplomatic agreements to establish a more fundamental order of civilizational coexistence. I call this the 'Noah Accord.'
Why Noah? According to the biblical Book of Genesis, after the great flood, humanity spread through Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Traditionally, it is interpreted that the descendants of Shem formed the core lineage of Middle Eastern civilization. The term 'Semitic' derives from Shem.
The Jewish people, as well as Arab nations, are understood to be part of this Semitic lineage. Abraham is also a descendant of Shem. In other words, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the broader Arab world share deep civilizational roots, emerging from the same ancestral lineage.
Here, the issue of Iran is crucial. Many view Iran merely as a separate civilization called “Persia,” but in reality, Iran is deeply connected to the Semitic civilizations throughout history. The predominant religion in Iran, Islam, stands on the monotheistic tradition of Abraham, and the Quran respects Noah as a great prophet.
When viewed broadly, the religious and civilizational structure of the Middle East shows that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all developed within the vast Semitic civilization, influencing one another through their connections to Noah and Abraham. Thus, Iran is not an entirely external civilization but another significant pillar within the same monotheistic civilization of the Middle East.
Of course, Iran has historically absorbed influences from the traditions of the Persian Empire and Central Asian civilizations, forming its unique identity. However, within its deeply rooted spiritual world, a shared memory of Middle Eastern civilization flowing from Noah and Abraham persists.
This point is vital. The Middle East is currently trapped in a complex conflict structure of Shia versus Sunni, Arab versus Persian, Jew versus Muslim, and the U.S. versus Iran. However, tracing the roots of these conflicts leads to the realization that they are not entirely different ethnicities but rather brother civilizations that have diverged from the same ancestors and shared civilizational memories.
The significance of Noah's story lies not merely in bloodlines. Noah was the figure who built the ark amid the flood. That ark was not meant for a specific ethnicity; it symbolized the minimal order of coexistence necessary for survival.
Humanity now stands before another great flood. The AI revolution, nuclear crises, supply chain conflicts, energy wars, population decline, climate change, and civilizational clashes are all converging. The Middle East, in particular, is the world's powder keg where all these conflicts are concentrated. In this era, what is needed is not just military victory but a new order of coexistence.
The core of the Noah Accord lies here. First, it calls for joint security guarantees for international maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Second, it prohibits attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Third, it establishes a dialogue framework that transcends Shia and Sunni, Jew and Arab. Fourth, it sets principles for using AI and advanced technology for human survival and development, rather than for war. Fifth, it seeks a minimal agreement recognizing that countries in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are not targets for annihilation but entities with which to coexist.
Israel, along with Sunni Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has already begun to explore paths of reconciliation and cooperation through the Abraham Accords. While complete peace is still distant, at least a shared recognition of the necessity to “live together” is forming.
The remaining challenge is Iran. As the leader of Shia Islam, Iran must also recognize that it is not a completely isolated entity but ultimately a brother civilization within the same Middle Eastern civilizational sphere, descended from Noah. Likewise, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE must view Iran not merely as a target for elimination but as a long-term partner for coexistence. This is essential because, in the current structure, no one can emerge as a complete victor.
Even with overwhelming military power, the U.S. cannot fully stabilize the Strait of Hormuz. Iran can mobilize the Revolutionary Guard and proxy forces, but sustaining a prolonged conflict against the entire world is challenging. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states possess vast financial resources, but their future vision is threatened if energy export routes are disrupted.
Ultimately, the future of the Middle East lies not in 'total victory' but in 'controlled coexistence.' The world is not merely seeking breaking news; it is asking, “How should we live moving forward?” The flames of conflict in the Middle East are not just about wars in the desert; they represent a question about the direction of human civilization in the age of AI. Therefore, the Middle East must advance beyond simple ceasefire agreements to embrace a greater civilizational imagination.
The Noah Accord is, in essence, a new contract for coexistence, starting from the recognition that Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Sunni world, along with Iran as the leader of Shia Islam, are not different enemies but rather descendants of Noah and brothers within the same civilizational sphere. It may well be a new ark of civilization that humanity must create to survive in the age of AI.
※ This article was generated using generative AI and has been reviewed by an editor.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.