The Saudi-Iranian geopolitical rivalry demonstrates an increasingly array of problems for the Middle East and South Asia. This geopolitical rivalry is further complicated by religious and ideological competition that is embedded within the domestic and regional landscape of the both the Middle East and South Asia. The rivalry has hindered peaceful developments within the regions as both rivals have attempted to out manoeuvre each other through proxy conflict. This can be exemplified by their interferences in Iraq, Lebanon and to a smaller extent in Pakistan. The implications of their rivalry has also exacerbated conflicts within Syria and Yemen by hindering any prospects of a conflict resolution, and further contributing to the widespread catastrophes. The religious dimensions of the rivalry have also prevented discriminated Shi’a populations in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan from gaining political and civil rights. Sunnis within Iran and Iraq also face a similar dilemma. Furthermore, Iran’s expansion has forced Saudi Arabia to seek common ground with Israel.

The chain of events that has started with the execution of Shi’ite scholar Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s death sentence by Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2016 together with 46 people and continued with setting the Saudi Arabia’s Consulate in Mashhad and Embassy in Tehran on fire by the demonstrators in protest of execution that led Saudi Arabia to cut its diplomatic relations with Iran created a tremendous impact on world public opinion as ‘Iran-Saudi Arabia tension.’ The reasons of this tension between the two regional powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, who are considerably different from each other regarding the regional politics of the Middle East both in terms their existence and interests, have been the most mentioned and discussed issue of the past few days. The most frequently asked question to understand the reasons beneath the tension between the two states was whether it was rooted in conflict of interests or in polarizations of sectarian differences. In this vein, another question asked rather anxiously for the future was whether the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran after the execution of al-Nimr would deepen the regional sectarian polarization, which had appeared within the context of civil wars and conflicts in the region. This short essay will try to answer these questions following a brief discussion of the course of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia until today.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ideological cold war between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran. These two countries have been involved in a serious fight against each other directly or indirectly. This research paper is intended to draw the historical context of KSA-Iran enmity and its wide range repercussion for South Asia, particularly Pakistan. South Asian Region has remained a theater for proxies between Sunni dominated Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran after Iranian Revolution in 1979. It will also shed light on sectarian, socioeconomic and political dimensions of repercussions for Muslim dominated country and the only Muslim Nuclear Power Pakistan.

The Saudi-Iranian rivalry reached a dramatic climax at the very beginning of January 2016. Unodoubtedly, Iran and Saudi Arabia represent two distinct political systems and two different approaches to foreign policy making. The question is, however, what are the reasons for these differences. It is a well-known fact that both Iranian and Saudi political systems are based on Islamic values. Yet the main difference is that their main principles stem from two divergent interpretations of Islam. The main aim of the article is to point up the main ideological differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia which directly or indirectly shape their foreign policies. Do they play a decisive role as far as the current tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are concerned? As far as sources are concerned, the analysis is based on official documents issued by Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as selected monographs and academic articles.

This article describes the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia for achieving regional hegemony in the Middle East. Both states have an ambition to be the leader of the Islamic world and there is a constant struggle between them to dominate Middle East and spread their influence in neighboring countries. Both countries fund militant Islamic movements abroad and are engaged in fierce battle for regional dominance. After the establishment of theocratic regime in Iran, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia vehemently opposed Teheran’s ambitions to export revolutions and increase its influence in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is determined to counter the Iranian revolutionary threat and constantly opposes Teheran’s ambitions to dominate the Arab World. Saudi Arabia and Iran often accuse each other of fueling sectarian violence by backing Shia and Sunni militias in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. Both countries try to avoid direct confrontation with each other. Instead of direct conflict, both sides fight each other indirectly and provide varying degrees of support to different camps in nearby conflicts

The paper examines the origins and development of the Iran and Saudi Arabia rivalry to be dominant force in the Middle East and guiding light in the Islamic world. The paper considers the fallout of the rivalry on countries such as The USA, Israel, and Turkey.

Islamic republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia are identified as two effective countries in sub-region of the Persian Gulf, that the radius of their influence covers whole great region of the Middle East. The relationship between the two countries have been full of tension during last decade, and during this period changes of political authorities of these countries were not able to improve this relationship. The cause is the resources of foreign policy behavior of the two countries, historical backgrounds of each country, as well as conflict of interest of each in the region of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. The most competition atmosphere between the two countries is inside the three climacteric countries of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Accordingly, the prospect of bilateral relations is a consequence of their behaviors in the region and also their dealings with these three countries. Three scenarios presented regarding the two countries' foreign policy in the region can be discus...

The major regional players in Mideast, including Iran and Saudi Arabia always intervened in politics of neighbouring countries with different political strategies. This study is to explore those major factors which have played key role in changing their strategies towards the regional politics. The research is helpful to know the dynamics of the Iranian and Saudi relations by keeping in view the US factor. From the perspective of the current scenario of the region, the research is helpful in assessing certain political objectives of both countries. This paper tries to examine the recent gulf between the status of both countries in relation with the hindrances and possibilities that lies between them. Keeping in view the growing relations of these countries, their foreign policies and political situation is leading towards a greater change in Mideast region. The growing relations of the countries and their foreign policies have certain objectives and due to globalisation, no country ...