5 reasons why Saudi Arabia v Iran don't like each other - in Layman's terms (USA & Saudi secret deal against Iran?)
These two countries battle for control of the Middle East. They do not like each other. 5 reasons why this is the case. Timeline included too!
Given everything that is happening in the world at the moment, I thought it would be useful to break down why Saudi Arabia and Iran do not like each other.
We saw that the USA started bombing Iran over the weekend. The more I thought about it then the more it makes sense to me that Saudi Arabia is probably involved in some way behind the scenes.
The countries have been heated rivals for centuries. The more that we scratch at the surface and try to play 5D chess, then the more it seems apparent that Saudi involvement in recent events is likely in my opinion.
I have no proof of this but the more I try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, then the more this makes sense to me.
NB - This is a Layman’s terms article. I have tried to break it down as simply as possible. I fully appreciate and respect that there are likely to be other in-depth undertones present.
5 reasons why Saudi Arabia v Iran don't like each other
1. Religious Divide – Sunni v Shia Islam
Saudi Arabia is a Sunni-majority country and sees itself as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world.
Iran is a Shia-majority country and promotes itself as the leader of the Shia world.
This split goes back to the 7th century and the debate about who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad
Theological roots of the Sunni–Shia split were never healed and became institutionalized over centuries. Think Catholicism v Protestantism in the Western World.
2. Geopolitical Rivalry
Both nations struggle to compete for dominance in the Middle East.
Modern-day hostility is less about theology (i.e. reason 1) and more about power and influence.
Iran supports groups like Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Assad regime (Syria), and the Houthis (Yemen).
Saudi Arabia backs Sunni governments and factions, and has fought against Iranian-aligned forces, especially in Yemen.
3. Opposing Foreign Policies
Iran promotes “resistance” against the West and Israel, often through non-state proxies such as those mentioned in section 2.
Saudi Arabia has traditionally aligned with the U.S. and the West, although that’s changing slightly in recent years.
This is also why it would not be surprising to find out if Saudi Arabia and the USA have a ‘‘behind the scenes’’ deal/plan and that the USA implemented the first part of this this weekend gone.
4. Natural Resources
Both countries are major oil producers in OPEC. They often clash over aspects such as production levels and pricing strategy.
If Oil is affected and the price goes higher, that combined with Saudi Arabia being able to increase production, then who benefits and who loses in the current situation? Should the Strait of Hormuz be closed? then it’s likely that Saudi Arabia wins and Iran loses.
5. Historic Flashpoints
1979 Iranian Revolution: Iran shifted from a monarchy (like Saudi Arabia has) to an Islamic Republic. It sought to export its revolutionary model, threatening monarchies like that of Saudi Arabia.
1980s - Modern Day: Both sides supported/support opposing groups in various regional conflicts (e.g., Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain). See point 2.
2016: Diplomatic ties were severed after Saudi Arabia executed the Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Iranian protesters subsequently stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran.
These are the 5 main reasons why these two countries do not like each other.
Timeline of Events
I asked ChatGPT to create a handy timeline of events to show various issues between Saudi Arabia and Iran, stretching back to the 7th Century AD.
I hope that this article has helped to explain a bit more about these 2 countries and why they do not get along.
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