Saudi-Iran conflict has not always been as troubled as it is today. Things between the two countries began to deteriorate since 1979. Currently, the Saudi-Iran tensions have jeopardized the security of the region as their relations are touching its lowest since 1979.
1979 is an epoch that defines the Saudi-Iran relations in a certain way. The year in which Islamic Revolution swept the western-backed Reza Shah Pahlavi away, opening the era of redefined relations between Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
One of the major fallouts of the Iranian revolution of 1979 were the immediate deterioration of relations between the newly formed government, that had toppled the monarchy in Iran, and the Arab countries. The conservative monarchies in the Sunni Arab whose self-proclaimed leader Saudi Arabia felt threatened by the radical government in Iran led by Ayatollah Khamenei. The Iranian leader’s interpretation that Islam does not acknowledge monarchies, was an existential threat to the Arab world, which found in Iran their worst foe to deal with.
Since the Islamic Revolution of Iran, it has been a general fear a common perception that Iran wants, and practically seeks to export its revolutionary ideas of democracy into their states. Obviously, it is repugnant to their interests, and for that matter, for their very existence.
Saudi-Iran Conflict, Taking Sectarian Color
History has the bad habit of distorting itself before presenting to the readers who in turn have a bad habit to believe what is presented to them. The history of Saudi-Iran relations is no exception.
With the passage of time and decades, the Saudi-Iran conflict, which had been initially political, deepened and boiled into a sectarian conflict. For those who know Islamic schism of Shia and Sunni, might understand the gravity of its meaning. For those who not, should derive some understanding from the recent developments in the Middle East where Iran and Saudi Arabia have indulged proxy wars in various fronts.
Now, the entire region has become the battlegrounds for both powers standing on the opposite side of the spectrum of Islam. On one side there is Sunni world, led by Saudi Arabia and its regional Sunni monarchies, including Bahrain where a minority Sunni dynasty has been ruling over the majority Shia. On the other side is Iran. Defiant, stand-alone, subversive and formidable enough to challenge the mainstream Islamic states, mainly though its proxies working across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Saudi-Iran On-Ground Comparison
The Saudi-Iran conflagration is likely to engulf the Gulf region, and it is feared that the war, if it was to take place, would involve other regional players as well.
Technologically speaking, Saudi Arabia is more advanced and boasts of one of the highest military budgets in the world. While cash-starved Iran clearly lags militarily behind its arch-rival due to many reasons in which the shattered economy due to US-imposed sanctions is the leading one.
But it is interesting that despite this clear disadvantage, Iran is more open to war than its numerically and technologically superior opponents. So far, the United States has been showing unprecedented restraint if compared to its recent engagements. In Afghanistan and Iraq, fewer reasons had led the US to invade their territories in 2000 and 2003 than Iran has been providing it for quite some time.
Related: https://www.rushhourdaily.com/saudi-oil-plants-attacks-iran-again-the-usual-suspect-news-analysis/
