Why Saudi Arabia and Iran have shared bitter relations since 1979

Saudi Arabia has officially resumed its embassy operations in Tehran after seven years. In 2016, the Gulf country closed the embassy and severed its diplomatic ties following a protest where demonstrators stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy.

This was a result of the Saudi administration's execution of a prominent Shiite leader, Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, on terrorism charges in January 2016. Saudi Arabia executed as many as 46 people on a single day in January, whom the administration accused of orchestrating terrorism in the country.

The resumption of ties between the two countries is a deal brokered by China in March 2023.

However, this was just the tip of the iceberg in the long-standing conflict between these two prominent Middle Eastern countries, which have been at odds since 1979.

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Why Do the Two Share Bitter Relations?

The primary cause of the rift between the two countries is the fact that Iran is a Shia-dominated country while Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni.

Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam, had its religious supremacy challenged by the 1979 uprising in Iran, which aimed to export this model beyond its borders.

During the Iraq-Iran War (1980-1988), when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein attacked Iran and continued the onslaught for the next eight years, Saudi Arabia supported Iraq in its pursuits.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US provided some relief to Iran, and since then, a Shia-backed government has been in place in Iraq.

Similarly, Iran rejoiced when Saddam Hussein was hanged in 2006 for possessing weapons of mass destruction.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been rising over the last 15 years. Since 2011, hostilities between the two countries have escalated as both nations seek to expand their influence in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain.

In Syria, Iran, with Russia’s support, has backed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in suppressing rebel groups supported by Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has launched attacks against the Houthi rebels, whom it accuses of being backed by Iran. Although Iran denies these allegations, there have been reports suggesting that Iran does indeed support Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia enjoys considerable support from Washington and receives backing for its activities against Iran. Israel, which views Iran as a mortal threat, also supports Saudi Arabia to contain Iran.

The state of Israel is concerned about the encroachment of pro-Iranian fighters in Syria, potentially bringing them even closer to its borders.

Has the Coldness Between the Two Countries Ended?

Although Saudi Arabia has reopened its embassy in Iran, the situation is far from resolved between these two Middle Eastern powers.

Both countries are rich in oil and mineral resources, and the world depends on them for its energy needs.

A full-fledged war between the two does not appear imminent, but it is evident that there are numerous issues they must address to fully resolve this conflict.