Saudi arabia and iran have viewed themselves as serious rivals for influence in the middle east, particu larly the gulf area, at least since irans 1979 islamic. How the iraniansaudi proxy struggle tore apart the middle. For conflicts as persistent as that being discussed, competing historical narratives are. 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. Senatorkirkiranfinancialsupporttoterroristsandmilitants1. One workshop participant explained that the principal sources of. Saudi arabia also possesses strong ties with bahrain, stemming in part from the al khalifas tribal roots in saudi arabia, and also from economic ties, facilitated by the sale of oil. Iran is a shiiteled islamic republic, while saudi arabia is a sunniled islamic monarchy. The middle east is traditionally defined as the fertile crescent mesopotamia, levant, and egypt and neighboring areas of arabia, anatolia and iran. Managing the saudiiran rivalry, council on foreign relations. This is a list of modern conflicts in the middle east ensuing in the geographic and political region known as the middle east. Saudiiranian tensions economic effects and political.
The two major powers in the region, saudi arabia and iran, fan the flames of regional conflict. While iran does not consider the kurds a terrorist group, it does not consider them an ally either, given their views on the future prospects of the assad regime. Saudi arabia is the birthplace of islam, and to its holy city of mecca where billion faithful turn five times a day for their prayers. Major government strategic gains in latakia, palmyra, raqqa,damascus, and aleppo fronts. For its part, saudi arabia, if it seeks to establish a friendly regime in syria, also needs iran. As syrian state military capabilities continue to deteriorate, these militias may form the framework for irans continued influence and activity in syria and the region. Saudi arabia has not officially given notice of this ban, but iran has blamed part of its difficulty selling oil on this message being spread by ship brokers and traders. Welcome to the joint crisis committee on the iransaudi arabia conflict at the fifth. Iran, saudi arabia,yemen,intrastate conflict,political crisis,policy briefs created date.
Disarmament and international security committee disec. And it viewed the syria conflict as part of a broader struggle against its regional rival, saudi arabia. The enmity between iran and saudi arabia is a persistent feature of middle eastern geopolitics. By the year 2011 saudi arabia was an iranian target as a result of the kingdoms support of the government of bahrain. If the syrian conflict devolves and begins to cost iran increasing amounts of blood and treasure, then domestic pressure in iran could begin to influence tehrans policies toward assad. Saudi arabia and the yemen conflict 2017 report executive summary. The security dilemma in saudiiranian relations mohamed.
Pdf what is really behind the saudiiranian cold war. Their nearly forty years long rivalry shows no sign of abating. Next, the article analyzes saudi and iranian relations with israel and the iran nuclear deal using the fpa approach to show how saudi arabia is consistently motivated by power and relative gains while iran is consistently motivated by power, identity, and domestic concerns. The two countries have provided varying degrees of support to opposing sides in nearby. As a result, the tensions reach further than the oil or economic sphere, and become geographical.
Its mission is to be an analytical, researchled global forum for informing, influencing and. While incidents such as the incursion of an iranian uav over israel 17 or the burning of the saudi embassy in tehran18 led to a significant rise in tension, they did not lead to war. The iranian attempt to control yemen started in the summer of 2014, culminating in the houthis. Saudi arabia helped to broker the departure of yemens longtime leader, ali abdullah saleh, and the formation of a national unity government. Yemen has experienced political turmoil and a climate of lawlessness for decades. Saudi arabia, make the region the primary target of irans strategic. While saudi arabia reported the transfer as a violation of resolution 2216, which imposed an arms embargo on the houthis and forces loyal to former yemeni president ali abdullah saleh, it would also contravene resolution. Second, in early 2016, the saudis executed the prominent shia cleric sheikh nimr alnimr, a saudi citizen an act that sparked a diplomatic firestorm between iran and saudi arabia and forced pakistan to do what it could to mitigate the fallout. Irans main interest is the consolidation of those gains. Differences in ideology are not the only factor behind this conflict. Introduction israel long has had a complex relationship with syria. The iransaudi arabia proxy conflict, sometimes also referred to as the iransaudi arabia cold war, middle east cold war or middle east conflict, 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.
The following paper argues that conflict between saudi arabia and iran does reflect their divergent religious beliefs, but above all, it is a case of converging power struggles and strategic geopolitical interests. Free resources about middle east conflicts to use with your. Only 6 percent of trade is conducted within the region, guaranteeing perpetual conflict as history teaches that peace relies upon economic interdependency. Gcc iran proxy conflict iran saudi arabia united arab emirates countrywide the conflict in 2017 in 2017, yemen continued to witness high rates of political violence across its territory. Pakistans approach to navigating the saudiiranian split.
Religion is the source of legitimacy for both the ruling family in saudi arabia and the ayatollahs regime in iran. Introduction for this study the researcher will examine both the iranian and saudi arabian options of being a superior power in the middle east and the conflict this race to the top. The white house has blamed iran for attacks on saudi oil. Iran, saudi arabia war readiness compared washington times. An inquiry lesson in current events in the muslim world lesson. Within the latter context, iran plays an influential role in the rivalry between saudi and qatar. Confrontation between the united states and iran global. However, this view might be mistaken for four reasons. The houthi insurgency is a yemeni zaydi shialed rebel group. Saudi arabia and irans rivalry is key to the middle east in 2018 regional chaos is set to continue with no solution in sight to yemen crisis and power struggle over shape of.
Shia muslims now question the oics independence and commitment to muslim solidarity as its charter prescribes. Why is there conflict between saudi arabia and iran. In the general perspective of the saudiiranian conflict, iran claims to represent the worlds shiites and saudi arabia claims to represent its sunnis, but the power struggle progresses over the. Free resources about middle east conflicts to use with. This leads, once again, to a ban on iranian pil grims until 1948.
Pdf conflicts between iran and the gulf arab states. Conflict between saudi arabia and iran is not really about religion, but is rather it is driven by a cold war struggle between iran and saudi arabia. Managing the saudiiran rivalry council on foreign relations. If left out of the post conflict transition, it could work very hard to wreak havoc and undermine any postassad government. Pdf relations between iran and saudi arabia have never been at a. The saudiiranian rivalry and the future of middle east. An escalated conflict with the saudis might risk serious. And it viewed the syria conflict as part of a broader struggle against. Coupling examinations of sectarian perspectives with examinations of national strategic interests sheds light on the rationale of. But now the whole debate has shifted towards the relationship between iran and saudi arabia, instead of solving the crisis inside syria. The escalating proxy war between the majoritysunni muslim kingdom of saudi arabia and iran, the home of shiite islam, is having repercussions across the. In recent years, however, iran s covert support for a yemeni faction exacerbated.
Government forces capture more than 705 settlements and over 17,000 sq km of territory. The early history of iran may be divided into three phases. The latest 72hour ceasefire starting 20 october was not renewed when it ended on. President trump pulled out of the iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions last year. Tehran had no other viable partner to protect its interests in syria. He further lists a whole host of allegations against.
Diplomatic relations between iran and saudi arabia are at a new low but a military conflict is not a possibility, irans foreign minister said on wednesday. The new middle east cold war and its affiliates, the emergent islamic state, and other sunni groups are locked in a conflict over what the proper political role of islam should. Saudi arabia witnessed, with great concern, irans ability to impose its influence in iraq thanks to the american occupation in 2003, and then in syria with the intensification of the civil war. Saudi arabia and irans exploitation of weakened political institutions will have serious effects on security, stability and economic growth in the region. Nov 18, 2019 president trump pulled out of the iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions last year. Solomon, president, united states institute of peace nonvoting in the near term, the u. A complicated mosaic although the conflict in yemen is widely presented as being between two distinct blocs a houthisaleh alliance against forces loyal to the internationally recognized president of yemen, abdrabbo mansour hadi, backed by a saudiled coalition. The organization of islamic cooperation oicwhich represents the entirety of the muslim worldhas traditionally observed a strict policy of neutrality, preferring to resort to closeddoor diplomacy regarding disagreements among its member states. That said, none of these attributes give iran any decisive advantages in a contest with saudi arabia. Should escalating tensions between bitter regional rivals iran and saudi arabia break out into open conflict, riyadhs formidable military arsenal would quickly overwhelm iranian forces in a. This includes iranian support for lebanese hezbollah and saudi support for a number of salafi. A view from iran on heightened conflict with saudi arabia. It has many levels but at its root it is our ideology contra their realpolitik. Rivalitas saudiqatar dan skenario krisis teluk wardoyo.
The growing rivalry between saudi arabia and iranand by. Iran has a large population and a long history of nationhood, while saudi arabia holds significant oil reserves and is custodian of islams holiest sites. As the word indicates, there is something like a rotation involved. On the surface, iran seems to have an upper hand in a direct military confrontation with saudi arabia because of its combat experience, geography, manpower, strategic depth, and greater cost tolerance. It was concerned the fall of assads regime would empower isis. While in the 2010s, the dispute revolves around regional domination. Jan 09, 2020 saudi arabia sought dialogue with iran. The conflicts toll exhausted irans zeal for sowing revolution abroad, but gave it a new mission.
Iran and saudi arabia have been actively supporting proxy groups fighting on opposite sides in syria. As iran, saudi arabia, various gulf states, and united states. In relation to the iran saudi arabia conflict, however, the oic openly backed riyadh, which deepened intersectarian rifts within the oic. Members of irans islamic revolutionary guard corp irgc march during a military parade to commemorate the 198088 iraniraq war in tehran, iran on september 22, 2007. The implications of the syrian war for new regional orders in. Crisis in the middle east this is a dangerous moment for the middle east, because the conflicts in gaza and lebanon could easily escalate to involve the broader region. This is the case as iran does hold considerable influence on assad and his political and military entourage.
In relation to the iransaudi arabia conflict, however, the oic openly backed riyadh, which deepened intersectarian rifts within the oic. Khouri1 abstract this paper argues that the impact of the eightyear war in syria will reverberate across the region for years to come, and explores, in particular, four noteworthy legacies. Despite these challenges, iran continued to support assad as of 2015. The same tension explains why saudi arabia helped bahrain, an oilrich, majorityshiite country ruled by a sunni monarchy, crush its version of the arab spring in 2011. Our ideology rejects monarchy and alliance with the nonmuslim governmentsnations that are oppressive or impose their will, policies or culture on usmuslims. The gulf cooperation council was created as a response to irans islamic revolution, which stirred unrest across the middle east, particularly among the regions shiite population. Iranian involvement in the syrian civil war wikipedia.
Hence, the balance of political power between saudi and iran would be the most critical determinant factor in the future scenario of this crisis. The implications of the syrian war for new regional orders in the middle east rami g. It currently encompasses the area from egypt, turkey and cyprus in the west to iran and the persian gulf in the east. Gcciran proxy conflict iran saudi arabia united arab emirates countrywide the conflict in 2017 in 2017, yemen continued to witness high rates of political violence across its territory. Saudi arabia and the yemen conflict in yemen, iran continues to support the houthis attempted overthrow of the government by. The syrian conflict has already constrained irans influence in the levant, and the fall of. Yet, irans ruling ideology and its regional agenda, built around shiasunni and iraniansaudi competition, are largely foreign. The ongoing conflict between saudi arabia and iran will become even more unpredictable in the coming months, experts have warned. King saud visits iran, and the shah reciprocates two. The geopolitical struggle between saudi arabia and iran presents an increasingly complex set of challenges for the middle east. By ambassador seyed hossein mousavian and mehrdad saberi iran has to choose whether it wants to live by the rules of the international system, or remain a revolutionary state committed to expansion and to defiance of international law, foreign minister of saudi arabia adel al jubeir stated recently in an oped in the new york times. Iran is making broad efforts to expand its influence over the entire gulf, as well as to deter us military action, reduce us influence, and establish itself as the dominant power in the region.
Saudi arabia which contains both mecca and medina, the two holiest cities in islam. The rivalry explained the enmity between iran and saudi arabia is a persistent feature of middle eastern geopolitics. Irans relationship with the houthis in yemen is often exaggerated. The two countries have provided varying degrees of support to opposing sides in nearby conflicts, including the civil wars in syria, yemen, and iraq. The conflict between saudi arabia and iran, while historical and religious in origin, has evolved into a geopolitical competition. An economic evaluation article pdf available in strategic analysis 364. Iran has a large population and a long history of nationhood, while saudi arabia holds significant oil reserves and is custodian of islams holiest sites before the 1979 iranian revolution, relations between iran and saudi arabia proceeded without major incident.
The current strategic landscape in the gulf is shaped by a competition between iran, iraq, the us, and the individual southern gulf states for influence in the military, political, and economic realms. Part of foreign involvement in the syrian civil war and the iransaudi arabia proxy conflict. It increased when the united states overthrew saddam hussein in iraq. List of modern conflicts in the middle east wikipedia. The iransaudi arabia conflict and its impact on the. The specter of war between saudi arabia and iran middle east. Iran,saudi arabia,yemen,intrastate conflict,political crisis,policy briefs created date.
Indeed, there are voices in the united states and israel calling for a deliberate broadening of the conflict to syria and iran. The past few years have demonstrated that flashpoints can be managed. Schwanitz revolutions are bittersweet moments in history that change a society mostly by bloodshed. Iran s position is also linked to fears of the establishment of kurdish independence in northern syria. May 19, 2017 the saudi airstrike campaign in yemen which began in 2015 has been supported by the u. Saudi arabia and the states of the gulf cooperation council gcc began an. One map that explains the dangerous saudiiranian conflict. Intervention by a saudi led coalition of primarily gulf cooperation council gcc member states in march 2015 turned the civil conflict into a broader war, attracting regional and international attention, although at its core this remains a civil war, not a proxy fight. Intervention by a saudiled coalition of primarily gulf cooperation council gcc member states in march 2015 turned the civil conflict into a broader war, attracting regional and international attention, although at its core this remains a civil war, not a proxy fight. Occasional paper understanding irans role in the syrian conflict. Occasional paper understanding irans role in the syrian. Under president hafez alassad, the syrian regime was a soviet client that fought wars with israel in 1967 and 1973, and clashed with its neighbour on numerous other occasions over the golan heights, the territory that divides the two countries and which israel occupied in 1967 before relinquishing a portion after the next war. What caused a sudden reversal in the organizations position on iran.
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