Bilateral Relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran

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Bilateral Relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran
Saudi Arabia and Iran have played a major role in the historical developments of the Middle East. On the one hand, Iran prides itself as the only remnant of the world’s ancient and greatest Persian Empire. At the same time, Iran acknowledges that Western powers could not colonize it (Muzaffar, Khan and Yaseen 1). On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, established in 1928, considers itself the custodian of the holy cities of Makkah and Medina. Iraq and the Persian Gulf separate the two countries on the Western and Eastern sides, respectively. Despite Saudi Arabia and Iran establishing bilateral relations in 1932, an uneasy bilateral relationship has increased, particularly after the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution.
a) International/Systematic Level
The 1979 Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution falls under the international/systematic level because the conflict affected Iran and other nations in the Middle East. Before the Revolution, Iran was a pro west absolute monarch supported majorly by the United States. The Revolution is largely responsible for the current proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In 1929, the two countries signed the Friendship Treaty, which led to mutual recognition and the formation of full diplomatic relations. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the two countries made more treaties like the Commercial Agreement (1953) and the Agreement to Partition Neutral Zone (1978). However, the Iranian Revolution in 1979 was a turning point for Iran. The revolutionaries in Iran called for Middle East countries to overthrow the monarchies and secular governments and replace them with Islamic republics. Initially, this did not create tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In July 1979, Mehdi Baargan, the first post-revolutionary Prime Minister of Iran, welcomed a delegation from Saudi Arabia. The two sides acknowledged the need to improve ties between the nations. Saudi Arabia considered the Revolution critical in improving closeness and understanding and praised the new Iran’s leadership. At the same time, the new leadership maintained close ties with the United States, an ally of Saudi Arabia. However, things took a different turn when in November 1979, 52 American diplomats were held hostage in Tehran. Iran had completely abandoned its alliance with the United States. At the same time, Islamic insurgents in Saudi Arabia in 1979 were a direct threat to the monarch. The newly formed Islamic Republic opposed the Saudi monarchy’s narrative as the leader of the Muslim world. Since then, the Saudi Iranian relationship has been characterized by opposition on major issues affecting the Middle East region.
Regional differences and proxy wars
Regional differences and proxy wars fall under the international category because of the involvement in other countries beyond Saudi Arabia and Iran. Since the Iranian Revolution, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been opposing sides. While neither divide has geared up for war, the major fight is through proxies. Iran began backing Shia militias and other related parties in other countries. Saudi Arabia was concerned about Iran's growing influence and started ...