The Conflict Between Saudi Arabia And Iran

Saudi Arabia and Iran are two countries that sit on opposite sides of the Sunni/Shiite divide, which can be argued as being the most prominent issue the Middle East faces today. Saudi Arabia is predominantly known to be a Sunni state, while Iran is largely inhabited by Shia Muslims. Both countries aspire to be the hegemonic powers of the region. Ethnically, Iran is known to be a Persian land, unlike Saudi Arabia that is known to be in the heart of the Arab world. These two countries are separated by the Arabian Gulf and throughout the twentieth century and up until today, the relationship between the two countries has been notoriously contentious. Within the past few years especially relationships between the two states have been very fragile with Saudi Arabia ending diplomatic ties early in 2016. The two states are strained over many issues of which are, interpretations of Islam, oil export policy and hegemonic regional leadership.

The complexity of America’s relationship with Iran increased steadily beginning in 1908, when Iran struck oil. The Shah, the king or emperor of Iran, after taking the place of his young predecessor Reza Shah Pahlavi with the help of the CIA, led Iran into a period of extreme wealth and prosperity, the likes of which the Iranian people had never experienced. However, with the growth of wealth in Iran came the growth of Iranian resentment towards the West, specifically the United States. The Iranian’s resented the uneven distribution of wealth that they felt existed and the United State’s influence in “westernizing” their society. In 1963, this growing hatred led to a conflict with the Islamic clergy. The conflict was quickly settled by the Shah, but he was unaware that this dispute was the beginning

Shi’ite Islam was, and still is, the prominent ideology for Iran’s citizens, and its deep history suggests how their government should be run differently from that of the Shah. Shi’ite Islam places the legitimacy of power on the Imam, totally independent of state (Elwell-Sutton, 393). The religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini should take charge of the country instead of the Shah because Khomeini’s authority would be based off of religion. Shi’ite thinking says that religious power (true justice) will always be in conflict with the

Over the centuries two Islamic Empires have been fighting for decades. “”The Ottoman ruler, Selim I sent a letter to the Persian rival, Isma’il I, leader of the Shi’ite Safavid state.””(Sunni versus Shi’ite) “” Isma’il had entered Ottoman territory and had demanded that Ottoman subjects accept Shi’ism.””(Sunni versus Shi’ite) In response to this Selim I threatens him with this letter. One thing lead to the other and eventually Isma’il I and Selim I had a war. “”Selim I won the battle of Chaldiran in 1514 and protected his territory from Shi’ite encroachment. “” (Sunni versus Shi’ite) Selim I quoted from the Quran saying that the land shouldn’t be played with it was given to them to their god the lord, by the same god that rules over Isma’il and his people the Shi’ites of the Safavid Empire. During this time the Ottoman Empire was pretty strong military and financially wise. The Ottoman Empire was better equipped for war, since out of the two groups they lasted the longest, since “”the Safavids were replaced by a regional dynasty, the Qajar’s and disintegrated due to pressure of tribal invasions.”” (Pamuk, 2004)

The centuries-old Sunni-Shia divide is exacerbated by “contemporary concerns over power, freedom and equality” (8). Many Sunni countries are prejudiced against Shiites and at the same time, are scared of Shiism spreading. Sunni-dominated governments such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan have worked to keep Shiites and Sunnis divided and specifically, to keep Shia subjugated (8,9). For example, the government of Saudi has worked to build a network of mosques, seminaries, schools, and writers that emphasize Sunni identity (8). In Algeria, the minister of education dismissed teachers in the fear that they were spreading Shiism. The Sunni’s fear of Shia spreading that it controls even the potential of Shiism to spread makes the divide even bigger and has caused anti-Shia propaganda “with renewed virulence” (9,11). The prejudice that Sunnis hold against Shiites is illustrated in this example. A man who was to give a guest lecture in Pakistan on Sunni-Shia relations told a group of Muslim professors, when asked, that he was Christian. One of them replied, “Well at least you’re not Shia”

Iran is a country with majority of its population being Shia Muslims, it is a splinter branch of Islam where it is believed that only Muhammad’s descendants can lead the faithful. Muslim clergy plays political roles in Shia countries, even though Shia Muslims are a small segment (about 15%) of the entire Muslim population, since 1501 most Iranians identify as Shia Muslims. This is one way they differentiate themselves from the

The countries present their ideologies to the outside world as holy nations. Recently there has been significant evidence on major shifts with increasing polarization and creation of new alliances. These strategic actions produce both risks and opportunities; however, in the Middle East, there has been growing sectarianism in the conflicts (El Fadl, 2005). The sectarianism plays a great role in the political conflicts within Saudi Arabia and Iran. While both Saudi Arabia and Iran claim to have theocracy model states based on Islam, Saudi Arabia is considered a Theo-monarchy with strong relations to Wahhabism, a branch of Sunni Islam, while Iran’s political system has democratic components and is based on Shiism (Al-Rasheed, 1996). The differences in religious practices and ethnicity between the two nations have contributed to the dilemma of instability in the Middle

Back when the religion began and Muhammad had just died, the divide was over who the next caliph should be, but now, it is a struggle over political power. The different views between the different parts of Muslim communities was the start of the separation. The divide escalated from different viewpoints, to violence and extreme prejudice. “The Iraq conflict plays out on several levels between Sunnis and Shiites. First and foremost, it’s about how to share power in a 21st century state”(How the Sunni-Shia Conflict Frames the Current Crisis in Iraq). When the Shiites are in power over a country, the Sunnis are being discriminated and attacked. When the Sunnis are in power over a country, the Shiites are being victimized. “Maliki, a Shiite allied with Iran, became the country’s new leader. Rather than seeking peace between the two groups, critics say he oppressed the Sunnis both inside government and by squashing protests in the street”(How the Sunni-Shia Conflict Frames the Current Crisis in Iraq). Maliki did not try to ease the tensions, but instead, did the exact opposite. If the protesters were Shiites, they would not have been ‘squashed’. The tug-of-war between these two sects over who gains control in government has terminated the other branch of Islam. The political struggle between the Sunni and Shia has come to the point at which the two sects

Overall, Stephen Kinzer presents a very convincing argument full of accurate and well-articulated points, yet he fails to support his argument fully and draws loose conjectures as fact, ignoring the rich cultural and historic tradition of the Middle East and Iran.

Introduction: In the Western world, people often assume that Iran is an exceedingly religious society. Many Americans still view the country through biases formed after the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979. To them, Iran is a country where religion dominates social, political, and economic life. Iran’s infamous Shi’a led government has been the target for ethnocentric and racist rhetoric by American politician. While it has been easy for the United States’ people and government to pigeonhole Iranians as devout Muslims who base their decisions on Shi’a tenets, Honeymoon in Tehran by Azadeh Moaveni reveals an entirely different reality. Rather than complying with a theocratic system of rule, Iranians have found methods to defy their government

Many countries generally such as Saudi Arabia and Iran specifically hate each particularly other in a subtle way. This definitely is really due mostly to really religious differences, which generally is quite significant. Both countries really are Muslim but there particularly are different types of Muslim which actually hold different beliefs in a subtle way. These different beliefs split Saudi Arabia and Iran apart in a subtle way. Saudi Arabia and Iran literally have differences which causes conflict, or so they basically thought. Religion for the most part is a particularly key difference between Saudi Arabia and Iran in a subtle way. After Prophet Muhammad died, his followers split into different beliefs, or so they definitely thought. Sunni Muslims definitely believe that anyone can generally be caliph, which mostly is fairly significant. Shia’s on the really other hand essentially believe that the caliph definitely has to for the most part be a descendant of Muhammad, or so they basically thought. Saudi Arabia really is Sunni while Iran mostly is Shia, so this for all intents and purposes is basically due mostly to definitely religious differences, for all intents and purposes contrary to popular belief. The Islam religion specifically was founded by Mohammed in a subtle way. Sunni Muslims for all intents and purposes believe the leader can basically be anyone, which kind of is quite significant. Shia Muslims for all intents and purposes believe that the leader

Disagreement between Shias and Sunni have been the most important splits in Islamic religion, which are ongoing problems since the 7th century to present-day, conflict in Islamic history has initiated blood spills from generations to generations and is still taking life’s while differences in social and equal opportunities that have taken deep roots in the minds of future leaders.

Conflict arises due to the clashing of principles, ideals and doctrines among parties that both wish to have it their way, intensifying any discord. When two parties collide on even footing and seek to defend their own beliefs, there may not even be blame or fault that needs to be placed upon either party, as it could be seen as their right to fight for what the two parties want, which no doubt enhances the difficulty to find a resolution. The clash of values among people is exhibited in Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” which we see Nadar and Simin arguing as to whether they should remain in their home country of Iran or go overseas to pursue prosperity. Nadar’s argument that he needs to remain in Iraq in care for his senile father is in sync

that religion and politics have a long history in the Middle East does not mean that religion is always, or even most of the time, a crucial factor driving political conflicts. Most of the politics of the Middle East have been viewed by those inside and outside the region as driven by religious difference. From the Arab-Israeli conflict to the Iranian revolution to the emergence of

Since many religions have started in the Middle East, it has become the center for erupting conflicts. For instance, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been in the news for many reasons. Both groups want control of the God given land that they both claim is theirs, according to God, and what had happened in the past. The result of the conflict is religious terrorism (PBS, 1). Continuing, some Middle Eastern politics have been in conflict, even dividing communities of the