The connections between Iran and Saudi Arabia have consistently been tense given the two nations variation in geopolitical concerns. Examples of these issues include understanding of Islam, ambitions to rule the Islamic world, petroleum products trade policies, and the relationships with the west mostly the United States. Regardless of both Iran and Saudi Arabia being Muslim dominated nation-states following and adhering to the guidance of the Quran (Islamic scriptures); the associations amid them are uptight with violence. Additionally, the relations are viewed to characterize apprehension and skirmishes, because of the variations in the political agendas that founded on their different faith. This paper looks into the history of the conflict, root causes, the main events from the perspective of foreign policy and the governments’ roles through education and the media.
The associations amid religion and politics in the Middle East have turned the territory into an era of uptight crisis and hostility. Beginning from the Ottoman and Western imperialism, the rival powers in the territory persist to restore and drawback the strategic inequalities and course of the Middle East politics. The primary consideration of the Middle Eastern politics from the 1920s to early 1970s had been Saudi-Iranian associations. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been engaged in bitter competition commencing from the Iranian revolution of 1979. The current conflict and Sunni-Shi’ite proxy clashes persist in having critical effects for territorial solidarity and national security interests of the United States. The tumble of Saddam Hussein after the 2003 United States’ steered annexation and the following institution of a Shi’ite Iraq have altered the balance of power amid Saudi Arabia and Iran. The imbalance of power has resulted to up surged pressures amid the two countries to consummate levels.
In the competition to dominate the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have not yet engaged each other in combat but instead have partitioned the region into two fortified camps based on political ideology . In the pursuit for territorial allies and up surging their authority and influence in the region, the two nations publicize the spread of sectarianism and exploit the territory’s fragile states via a cycle of proxy wars in different countries. These countries comprise Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Iraq. Additionally, Saudi Arabia and Iran utilization of proxy wars in the territory after the Arab Uprisings have offered room for the growth of extremist parties. One of such extremist group is the ISIS, which has become a major play in the region.
Sectarianism and religion
The initial cause of clashes between Saudi Arabia and Iran is sectarianism. Sectarianism refers to bigotry and other discriminative inclinations resulting from connecting associations of inferiority and superiority to the distinct variations in a group. It is crucial to identify the schism amid the Sunnis and the Shi’ites Muslims to understand sectarianism as a cause of conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The split between Sunni and Shi’ite is an enmity that is many years old springing from the religion per se. The initial issue is the political rule. In the demise of Prophet Muhammad, there arose a variation of opinion regarding who was to inherit the prophet as a frontrunner of the Islamic societies rightfully. The Muslim, who contended that leadership ought to stick in the family, backed Ali, and they were referred to as Shi’ites. Most members of the community trusted that Abu Bakr ought to have been Muhammad’s replacement given that no guidelines were connecting to succession. Those who followed Abu Bakr argued that leadership should be founded on an agreement with this group being alluded to as Sunni. Furthermore, on political leadership, the Shi’ites and Sunnis differs in connection to the political authority of the frontrunner. The Sunni backs the maintaining status quo and the present institutions as a ruler while the Shi’ites trusts that the heir ought to be the polyglot of religion and custodian of their esoteric understanding.
The next critical difference relates to the tasks of intermediaries in Islam. Customarily, the Sunni Muslim trusted in the Prophet together with the saints being the intermediaries amid God and humans. Nonetheless, in the contemporary world, the puritanical Sunnis have faith that God is transcendent. Consequently, there should not be intermediaries between God and humans. Conversely, Shi’ites trusts those political leaders are representative of some kinds and intermediaries undertakings are executed by Prophet and Imams. It is also significant to note that the Sunni differ with the Shi’ites on the understanding of the Islamic law and perspectives of faith and rituals.
The two nations that are Saudi Arabia and Iran claim to practice true Islamism. Further, the two nations suppose that their civilizations and institutions are founded on the correct Islamic normative principles. Also, each of the two countries’ government indicates that they rule their subjects as directed by the Sharia and divine law which is a lawful code springing from the Quran in conjunction with the customs of the initial civilizations of Muslim societies and Muhammad. The two countries’ differs widely in the manner of contemplation in the kinds and guidelines of governance. Saudi Arabia is predominately Sunnis while Shi'ites dominate Iran. Different sects/groups from either country confront each other especially around the national boundaries resulting in conflicts. Politicians have learned to take advantages of these religious differences and incited different groups against each other or members of a group. Though Muslims shares distinct features, the religious disagreements over interpretation have resulted in consistent wars among them particularly when the differences are exploited by politicians in both Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Competition
Saudi Arabia and Iran are always on rivalry and thus are causing conflict between the two nations. For example, the US together with other world powers such as UK and Russia negotiated a deal in July 2015 with Iran to structure its nuclear program. Numerous regional partners have criticized this move. Saudi Arabia viewed the move as allowing Iran to develop a nuclear program with the consent of the United States. As a result, Saudi Arabia announced its quest to develop nuclear weapons indicating that it can buy nuclear capabilities from outside. Following the Shi’ite bomb in Iran, Saudi Arabia has increased purchases of military equipment including purchasing of missile defense and fighter jets.
Yemen Killings
The politically permeated rebels alluded to as Houthis crossed to Saudi Arabia murdering two border guards and seizing land belonging to Saudi. The Killing resulted to one of the largest Saudi martial operation. Further, Yemeni and the Saudi governments joined and accused Iran of arming the rebels. This incidence including 2015 Hajj stampede, Jeddah airport incident and the assassination of Nimr al-Nimr among others have resulted in various conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran as well as strengthen the long-term tension between the two countries.
The establishment of the postcolonial Iraq was synthetic given the geopolitical boundaries were drawn to match the interests of British and French. In other words, the boundaries were not developed to fit the self-determination of the natural habitats but states that would accomplish the political and economic interests in the region for the imperialists. Therefore, the government that was established was perceived illegitimate by the populace that they were supposed to govern. Following the institution of Iraq, the Sunni masses were the minority among the Iraqi populations and thus commenced an authoritarian rule. The Sunnis dominated Iraq for the subsequent 82years while the Shi’ites were cruelly repressed and relegated. These undertakings were specifically viewed under the rule of Saddam Hussein subject to the flagship of the Ba’ath party. For example, the Shi’ite Muslims being based in the South of Iraq were intentionally neglected by Saddam through inhibiting them to obtain their primary needs.
Following the 2001 assault in the US, President Bush commenced a transnational battle on terror which resulted in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Additionally, the invasion of Iraq was also a plot to overthrow Saddam and build a model democratic nation in the Middle East. The US exertions resulted in the fall of Baghdad pushing Iraq to discord and uptightness embedded in a sectarian thinking. This thinking resulted in different local Sunni and Shi’ite parties incorporating the extremist battling for power. Further, on the US launch of a campaign to Baghdad, the Shi’ite communities preceded by Ayatollah joined them. The tumbling of Saddam administration and consecutively Shi’ite rising to power was noticed both at Riyadh and Tehran. Thus, in looking at the causes of the conflict amid Saudi Arabia and Iran, it is significant to look at their interests in Iraq. It is also vital to examine the manner in which the two countries persist to utilize Islam to dominate the Middle East. The collapse of Saddam’s administration joined to the war in Iraq altered the territory’s security paradigm drawing Iran and Saudi Arabia in a tussle for power. Iraq having been previously envisaged as an intimidating foe to both the country is currently a core issue with none of the state not ready for an aggressive regime in Baghdad. The Iran’s interests in Iraq include controlling Najaf and Kerbala (sacred cities) as well as the Askari Shrine. Saudi Arabia is frightened of Sunnis losing prominence in the Middle East and is interested in restoring the distinction.
The government has shown increased urge to spread Wahhabism throughout the Muslim territories investing large amounts of money into the exhibitions as the self-proclaimed administrator of Sunni Islam. The Saudi government is influential in Islam being the guardian of the two holy sites for Muslims that hosts the yearly pilgrimage Hajj. Additionally, the discovery in Saudi Arabia created additional resources to propagate Wahhabism through getting Wahhabi educators and religious notables. For instance, in the last 20 years, it is estimated that the government has used $87 billion promoting Wahhabism and Islam in entirety overseas. The funds have been utilized in buildings and functioning costs of religious establishments such as mosques and madrasas. The funds have also been used in the media and publishing houses for the Wahhabi books. The government providing such increased support for the Sunni Muslim in a country that is also occupied by Shi’ite Muslim is bound to cause conflicts.
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been present for decades commencing immediately after the establishment of the countries in the postcolonial period. The conflict is essentially rooted in the religious differences. With both nations having adopted solidly religious fundamentalism the two nations are bound to conflict. With the politicians taking advantages of the sharp views adopted by different sects/group they can manipulate them easily into wars. The two nations have also constantly been in conflict over the domination of the Middle East given the imbalance of power after the fall of Saddam administration.
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