| ID | 137294 |
| Title Proper | Saudi Arabia and Iran |
| Other Title Information | political confrontation in Syria |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Khaduev, M |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | THERE IS EVERY REASON to describe the Syrian conflict as an open confrontation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in the Middle East. "Iran and the Saudis are two main political opponents in the region. Today when the fog which enveloped their relations for a long time finally dissipated this has become even more obvious than before."1 Saudi Arabia which relies on the Sunni doctrine of Islam as the cornerstone of its statehood is acutely aware of Iranian pressure too close to its borders: pro-Iranian Iraq in the north, Shi'a disturbances in Bahrain which echo in the kingdom's Eastern Province and clashes between the government troops and Houthi rebels in Yemen. This leaves the KSA no other alternative but to wipe the Ba'ath regime in Syria, one of Iran's loyal allies, off the political map of the world. The escalating revolution in Syria has offered the members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) a unique chance to try harder to isolate Iran and weaken its regional influence. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Affairs (Moscow) Vol. 61, No.1; 2015: p.128-135 |
| Journal Source | International Affairs (Moscow) Vol; 61 No 1 |
| Key Words | Iran ; Syria ; Saudi Arabia ; Sunni ; Bashar al-Assad ; Islam ; Political Confrontation ; Shi'a |