Saudi Arabia and Iran are two strong neighbors and perennial rivals in the fight for regional dominance
Source: Tanjug
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Foto: Tanjug/AP/Planet Labs Inc
Recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities, Iran is suspected of performing, further deepened hostilities between the two countries.
The 10-year long conflict between Riyadh and Tehran and Iran is further burdened by religious differences - Iran is dominated by Shiite Muslims, while Saudis see themselves as the leading Sunni Muslim power, the BBC reports.
That division in Islam is reflected throughout the Middle East region, as other countries that are divided into those with a majority Shiite or Sunni population seek the support and guidance of Saudi Arabia or Iran.
Historically, Saudi Arabia views itself as the "leader of the Muslim world" as it is regarded as the "kingdom and birthplace of Islam".
On the other hand, after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, a new state was created - a revolutionary theocracy, aimed at extending that model to neighboring countries, according to the BBC.
According to the British Public Service, the 2003 invasion of Iraq overthrew Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, and opened the way for a Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad, and Iran's influence on Shiites in the country has been growing ever since.
Subsequent uprisings across the Arab world have caused political instability throughout the region, and Iran and Saudi Arabia have used those protests to expand their influence, especially in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.
Thus, over the last 15 years, the rivalry has been growing stronger, with the BBC estimating that Iran has been winning the regional race in many ways.
In Syria, Iran's support for President Bashar al-Assad is said to have allowed his forces to largely destroy Saudi Arabian-backed rebel groups.
Reportedly, regional tensions are exacerbated by the "militaristic adventurism" of young and impulsive Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salaman - who is the de facto ruler of the country waging war on Hut, an Iran-backed rebel movement in Yemen.
Iran, on the other hand, has denied accusations of supplying Hute with weapons, though United Nations reports say otherwise.
For the US and other Western powers, free navigation in the Gulf is essential and any conflict that could block the shipping route for oil could easily trigger US naval and air forces.
For a long time, the United States and its allies saw Iran as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, and Saudi leaders increasingly perceived Iran as an existential threat.
Saudi Arabia's vulnerability has been demonstrated by the recent attacks on its oil facilities.
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
Wow another pearl of wisdom. Keep them coming.
(sj, 22 September 2019 07:39)
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
Which part of my comment do you find offensive? Lard Boy? Well Pompeo is immensely fat and he was the first to yell out its was Iran and “we have the evidence”. The US pulled that same stunt in Iraq with weapons of mass destruction and you had Colon Powell running around the UNSC showing pictures of these weapons which were proven to be pure 100% US BS.
Then you have the other lunatics such as John Bolton, Lindsay Graham and legions of others who would go to war at a drop of the hat provided they nor their family members were in the military.
Yes, it’s a great chip but it’s called reality, but you obviously live in the US and feel hurt by the truth. Its so sad that people like you are so brainwashed that you can’t see beyond your nose.
Serbia will be great but without the help of your US of Piss and Wind.
(sj, 19 September 2019 14:31)
Once again we are nowhere near the U.S.A but yet once again these battles for power are involving U.S.A
I say sail your ships back to where you came from and STOP being the world bully and world dictator.
We know the U.S is behind the oil bombings.
Why???
To raise oil prices around the world, along with conjuring a pathetic reason to start a new war it will then try to look like the saviour of the middle east.
U.S propaganda at its very best.
Go home you disgusting devil.
(Smart Serb, 18 September 2019 23:04)
Who launched the drones? Naturally the US Lard Boy jumped up and screamed its was Iran and yes, they have the proof LOL just like they had the proof when Iraq had WMD and Colon Powell went around with the satellite photos of the “proof”. I wonder if the US officials know about the boy who cried wolf once too often.
I seriously doubt Iran launched the drones but you can never discount that possibility since they have a history of “pushing the envelope”. Then there is the theory it could be Israel or internal opponents of Saudi Arabia regime or even the US/Saudis trying to garner support against Iran and get more countries to send their navy ships and join the “international coalition”, which at the moment looks pathetic.
What is the most disturbing scenario for both the US and Saudi Arabia is that if the technologically primitive Houthi rebels managed to launch drones and by pass all the US superior weaponry then there is an enormous problem since the Saudis have spent billions buying US weaponry, such as the Patriot and this attack make that system as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike.
This is more serious for the US military complexes than the US will admit.
(sj, 18 September 2019 14:56)
Who launched the drones? Naturally the US Lard Boy jumped up and screamed its was Iran and yes, they have the proof LOL just like they had the proof when Iraq had WMD and Colon Powell went around with the satellite photos of the “proof”. I wonder if the US officials know about the boy who cried wolf once too often.
I seriously doubt Iran launched the drones but you can never discount that possibility since they have a history of “pushing the envelope”. Then there is the theory it could be Israel or internal opponents of Saudi Arabia regime or even the US/Saudis trying to garner support against Iran and get more countries to send their navy ships and join the “international coalition”, which at the moment looks pathetic.
What is the most disturbing scenario for both the US and Saudi Arabia is that if the technologically primitive Houthi rebels managed to launch drones and by pass all the US superior weaponry then there is an enormous problem since the Saudis have spent billions buying US weaponry, such as the Patriot and this attack make that system as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike.
This is more serious for the US military complexes than the US will admit.
(sj, 18 September 2019 14:56)
Which part of my comment do you find offensive? Lard Boy? Well Pompeo is immensely fat and he was the first to yell out its was Iran and “we have the evidence”. The US pulled that same stunt in Iraq with weapons of mass destruction and you had Colon Powell running around the UNSC showing pictures of these weapons which were proven to be pure 100% US BS.
Then you have the other lunatics such as John Bolton, Lindsay Graham and legions of others who would go to war at a drop of the hat provided they nor their family members were in the military.
Yes, it’s a great chip but it’s called reality, but you obviously live in the US and feel hurt by the truth. Its so sad that people like you are so brainwashed that you can’t see beyond your nose.
Serbia will be great but without the help of your US of Piss and Wind.
(sj, 19 September 2019 14:31)
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
Wow another pearl of wisdom. Keep them coming.
(sj, 22 September 2019 07:39)
Once again we are nowhere near the U.S.A but yet once again these battles for power are involving U.S.A
I say sail your ships back to where you came from and STOP being the world bully and world dictator.
We know the U.S is behind the oil bombings.
Why???
To raise oil prices around the world, along with conjuring a pathetic reason to start a new war it will then try to look like the saviour of the middle east.
U.S propaganda at its very best.
Go home you disgusting devil.
(Smart Serb, 18 September 2019 23:04)
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
Who launched the drones? Naturally the US Lard Boy jumped up and screamed its was Iran and yes, they have the proof LOL just like they had the proof when Iraq had WMD and Colon Powell went around with the satellite photos of the “proof”. I wonder if the US officials know about the boy who cried wolf once too often.
I seriously doubt Iran launched the drones but you can never discount that possibility since they have a history of “pushing the envelope”. Then there is the theory it could be Israel or internal opponents of Saudi Arabia regime or even the US/Saudis trying to garner support against Iran and get more countries to send their navy ships and join the “international coalition”, which at the moment looks pathetic.
What is the most disturbing scenario for both the US and Saudi Arabia is that if the technologically primitive Houthi rebels managed to launch drones and by pass all the US superior weaponry then there is an enormous problem since the Saudis have spent billions buying US weaponry, such as the Patriot and this attack make that system as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike.
This is more serious for the US military complexes than the US will admit.
(sj, 18 September 2019 14:56)
Once again we are nowhere near the U.S.A but yet once again these battles for power are involving U.S.A
I say sail your ships back to where you came from and STOP being the world bully and world dictator.
We know the U.S is behind the oil bombings.
Why???
To raise oil prices around the world, along with conjuring a pathetic reason to start a new war it will then try to look like the saviour of the middle east.
U.S propaganda at its very best.
Go home you disgusting devil.
(Smart Serb, 18 September 2019 23:04)
Which part of my comment do you find offensive? Lard Boy? Well Pompeo is immensely fat and he was the first to yell out its was Iran and “we have the evidence”. The US pulled that same stunt in Iraq with weapons of mass destruction and you had Colon Powell running around the UNSC showing pictures of these weapons which were proven to be pure 100% US BS.
Then you have the other lunatics such as John Bolton, Lindsay Graham and legions of others who would go to war at a drop of the hat provided they nor their family members were in the military.
Yes, it’s a great chip but it’s called reality, but you obviously live in the US and feel hurt by the truth. Its so sad that people like you are so brainwashed that you can’t see beyond your nose.
Serbia will be great but without the help of your US of Piss and Wind.
(sj, 19 September 2019 14:31)
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
You keep showcasing that big chip. If you would get a penny for every kilo that it weighs, you would be wealthier than Donald Trump.
(Make Serbia Great, 19 September 2019 17:18)
Wow another pearl of wisdom. Keep them coming.
(sj, 22 September 2019 07:39)