";s:4:"text";s:11877:" A 2015 UN report alleged that Iran provided the Houthi rebels with money, training, and arms shipments beginning in 2009. Whereas the US has by far the most sophisticated and formidable armed forces in the world, Iran’s are restrained by mostly obsolete military hardware, some of it dating back to the era of the Shah (even though its endogenous military industrial complex is impressive in scope, it’s subpar in quality). [275], Following the United States withdrawal from Iraq in December 2011, the country drifted further into Iran's sphere of influence. In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, the Maldives, Mauritania, Sudan, Senegal, Djibouti, Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government, and the Hadi-led Yemeni government severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked their airspace and sea routes, in addition to Saudi Arabia blocking the only land crossing. Oil prices could remain elevated for an extended period of time after the conflict ends if there is significant damage to oil fields or oil infrastructure in either country. Prior to the Iranian Revolution, the two countries constituted the Nixon Doctrine's "twin pillar" policy in the Middle East. Here are 5 things you should know about it", "Why Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals", "How Saudi Wahhabism Is the Fountainhead of Islamist Terrorism", "Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Naive, arrogant Saudi prince is playing with fire", "Iran Asks Overthrow of Saudi Rulers Over Riots: Tehran Stand on Mecca Clash Adds to Tensions; Police Accused of Following U.S. During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia funded extremist militants in part to bolster resistance to the Soviet Union at the behest of the United States, and later to combat Shia movements supported by Iran. [203] The airstrike was seen as a major escalation of tensions, and the government of Iran vowed revenge in response. [214] In May 2018, Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman supported greater discussion between Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, stating "It's time for the Middle East to [...] have an axis of moderate countries," opposed to the network of Iranian allies and proxies. [170][171] On 4 November the Royal Saudi Air Defense intercepted a ballistic missile over Riyadh International Airport. An array of Kurdish groups is vainly attempting to capitalize on weakened nations-states to advance greater autonomy and even independence. [107] Saudi Arabia also spearheaded the creation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1969. [COMMENT]. The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was intended to bring Teheran back to the negotiating table. The Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, sometimes also referred to as the Middle Eastern Cold War, is the ongoing struggle for influence in the Middle East and surrounding regions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [239] It also joined Iran, Iraq, and Syria in forming a joint intelligence-sharing coalition as part of the fight against ISIL.
Both are already involved in proxy wars that span the Shiite Crescent and Yemen. [315] In 2003, The Washington Times reported that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had entered a secret agreement on nuclear cooperation to provide the Saudis with nuclear weapons technology in return for access to cheap oil for Pakistan. [215] The New York Times remarked that such cooperation was made more difficult by controversy over Israel's attitude towards Palestinians. [145] Such economic pressures further affected the regional dynamic in 2016.
[155][156][157] In June, the Iranian state-owned news agency Press TV reported that the president of a Quran council and two cousins of executed Nimr al-Nimr were killed by Saudi security forces in Qatif. [132][133][134] In May 2016 Iran suspended participation in the upcoming Hajj. Israel’s enduring enmity with Iran and Hezbollah is existential in nature. The two countries had severed relations in January 2016. Oman has long promoted itself as the main stabilizing force amidst the intensified Iranian–Saudi conflict and often prefers a diplomatic solution to end the proxy wars. [260] In 2014, with no end in sight to the conflict, Iran increased its ground support for the Syrian Army, providing elite forces, intelligence gathering, and training. It would mobilize its, proxy militias in the region to attack US targets.
[226], Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations have been strained since the beginning of the Arab Spring. [210][211] Azerbaijan, likewise, is the only Shi'a-dominated country to support Saudi Arabia's attempt to contain Iran in the region though remains cautious to join the anti-Iranian coalition. As the Kuwaiti paper Al-Seyassah pointed out, Iran might soon start a war in Middle East as the only way to show that Tehran still has influence in region and can threaten whoever opposes its plans.
[47] In 2015 Saudi Arabia formed the intergovernmental Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) in December 2015 with the stated goal of combating terrorism. [261] Although Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in 2015 to participate in peace talks in Vienna in participation with United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the talks ultimately failed. [110] This was in addition to financial and military support Iraq received from neighboring leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, in part to hedge Iranian power and prevent the spread of its revolution.
In almost all of them Iran looms as foe and ally. It would involve the unsustainable massive transfer of troops and materiel to the region and a long-term military presence in the country to subjugate dissent.
[219][220] Serbia, a major ally of Russia, and Kosovo, following the normalization agreements in 2020 (in which Russia supported), also designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group. [161][162] Soon after, Saudi authorities captured three Iranian citizens who they claimed were IRGC members plotting a terrorist attack on an offshore Saudi oilfield. Your privacy is valued. Over the past few years, Israel has launched numerous airs strikes inside Syria against Hezbollah and Iranian supply convoys and weapons sites. Iran military arsenal in NUMBERS: Could Iran sink US navy? [285] The Iranian Revolution led to resumed interest in Bahraini affairs. [128] Since King Salman came to power in 2015, Saudi Arabia has increasingly moved from its traditional Wahhabist ideological approach to a nationalist one, and has adopted a more aggressive foreign policy. The population is predominantly Sunni and has about 10-15% of Shia adherents. A confrontation would most likely be limited in scope. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman called it "direct military aggression by the Iranian regime" and said that it "may be considered an act of war against the kingdom". [213], The rebel group Jaish ul-Adl, active in the Sistan and Baluchestan region of Iran, was accused by Iranian authorities of receiving Saudi support. The Public's Right to Know about the President's Health vs. the President's Right to Medical Confidentiality. Trump humiliated: US admit only Putin can defend Saudis from Iran? Thailand’s Generals, As Usual, Fail to Understand Democracy, Cradle With Guns: Juvenile Piracy in Somalia Needs Attention, How Technology Is Impacting Global Health.
[193][194] In the wake of growing tensions, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that Iran sought good relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and their allies, and called on them to end their dispute with Qatar.
Syria is an important part of Iran's sphere of influence, and the government under Bashar al-Assad has long been a major ally. [249], Likewise, since late 2010s, sign of Iranian–Russian friction emerged, following Iran's attempt to turn Bashar al-Assad to align with the Islamist ideology of the Iranian regime which opposed to Russia's desire for a secular state. During the Afghan Civil War, Iran and Saudi Arabia supported opposing militant factions. [151] Iran feared the return of economic isolation, and President Hassan Rouhani made efforts to establish further international economic participation for the country by signing oil deals with Western companies before Trump took office. According to the cable Saudi argued that a Hezbollah victory against the Siniora government "combined with Iranian actions in Iraq and on the Palestinian front would be a disaster for the US and the entire region".
[167] Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei later accused the United States of creating ISIL and of joining Saudi Arabia in funding and directing ISIL in addition to other terrorist organizations. The American-led invasion in 2003 caused a power vacuum in the region. The Iranian government has been suspected of militarizing Shia loyalists amongst Pakistan's local population and promoting sectarian sentiments to further achieve its goals. Although both Iran and Saudi Arabia signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1970 and 1988 respectively, a potential nuclear arms race has been a concern for years.
Israel’s enduring enmity with Iran and Hezbollah is existential in nature. Protesters of the executions responded by demonstrating in Iran's capital, Tehran. [262], Saudi Arabia countered Russia's intervention in Syria by increasing its support for the rebels and supplying American-made anti-tank TOW missiles, a move which slowed initial progress made by Russian and Syrian forces. Israel is preparing for such an eventuality by deploying a sophisticated anti rocket system, and staging the, largest military exercises in two decades, . You’ll also get my latest articles and updates delivered to your inbox. In 1981, the front organization Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain led a failed coup attempt to install a Shia theocratic regime led by Hadi al-Modarresi. Prince Bandar, a strong opponent of Iranian influence in the Middle East, is at the center of an Iranian smear campaign to discredit him and tarnish his image. Therefore, it would not be a surprise if Iran attacks Israel if the U.S. gets involved in the war. A naval confrontation would be restrained as both navies are limited in size and reach. A war would have devastating economic and energy repercussions, both regionally and internationally. Please limit comments to 300 words or less.
[176], Saudi Arabia under King Salman has adopted a more assertive foreign policy, particularly reflected in the country's intervention in Yemen in 2015 and its involvement in Lebanon in 2017. The sick Iran black market where you can sell your kidney for £8,000, Iran vows to start ‘all out war’ in retaliation to any military strike, Crown Prince Bin Salman and Hassan Rouhani, Aramco oil plant in flames after drone strikes, Trump has backed the military response against Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iran military comparison (globalfirepowr.com. Most notably drawing Shiite-dominated Iran into a large-scale offensive against Sunni-led Saudi Arabia. [291] In January 2016, Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia in cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran following the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. [309] Many Pakistani Shias have also been suspected of traveling to parts of the Middle East including Syria and Lebanon to fight on behalf of the Iranian government.[310][311][312]. [88], Saudi Arabia was one of three countries to officially recognize the Sunni Taliban government in 1996, along with its allies Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.