A surprise deal reached one year ago to mend ties with Iran has paid dividends for Saudi Arabia, largely shielding it from the Gaza war and related unrest, analysts say. Though thorns remain in the complex relationship between the Middle East rivals, the rapprochement amounts to a signature diplomatic achievement for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s hard-charging de facto ruler. After a turbulent rise to power that saw Prince Mohammed launch a war in Yemen and mount a boycott of Qatar, the 38-year-old has since adopted a more conciliatory approach that culminated in the deal wi…