I agree, this is probably the only topic I feel I can actually contribute with some knowledge and understanding, but as you mentioned they do need this as much as anyone, in fact they need it even more then some other countries. Due to their 90% reliance on oil, no taxes, heavy government spending, new military power and presence in the gulf they need oil to rebound to balance their sheets.
They can as they have done in the past try to suppress the prices for longer, however this time I think will be different, they are loosing power and confidence in the OPEC cartel, they have lost their top spot market share as supplier to china to Russia (which would have hurt the saudis pride), America produced more oil in 2014 /2015 (again would have hurt their pride) and with technology for shale improving it wont be long before shale will be getting it out of the ground for mid - low 20's or lower and then shale will be competitive with the likes of Saudi and Iraw and Kuwait for extraction.
All of the gulf countries are in a world of hurt and the $700B treasure chest SA do have will be gone in 5 years at current rates, while other OPEC countries are running on empty. Amongst all of this, if they impose taxes on a country that has never had taxes, or cut spending too much they run the chance of been overthrown by the people who are accustomed to a lifestyle of luxury, easy work and high pay.
Outside of cutting production (not freezing) and letting Iran get back to the 4million barrels a day they want to be exporting, I think this could go on until they are broke which realistically isn't that long, and don't get me wrong at the current POO Iran is not winning either but they just want to maintain market share for when it does rebound.
I was also reading that SA is preventing Iran using their waters / pipes for oil transportation and wont allow Iran owned ships to dock at any port used by SA or some of the other OPEC members. Maybe this will help Iran come to an agreement on the 17th.
As you said it is the meeting on the 17th in Doha and will be a great meeting, I would love to be a fly on the wall.
(20min delay)