Iran-Saudi tiff: bad news for troubled region
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 5, 2016
Saudis are very strict on anyone challenging the established system of government which is dynastic and monarchical in nature. The royal al-Saud house dons the mantle of government and controls all political and social aspects of the society. The family follows Sunni Islam and traditionally supported governments and private individuals following the same branch of Islam. It is also blamed for supporting Sunni groups which fight and attack the Shiite populations, a charge denied by the government of Saudi Arabia.
The rivalry of Saudi Arabia and Iran runs through history. The rise of Islam in the Arab deserts smashed the power of old Persia, resulting in the mass conversion of the local population to Islam. However, it only added to the chaos. As soon as the Iranians were persuaded to accept a different connotation of Islam, this led to rise of the Shiite sect in the region.
The recent rivalry is due to matching aspirations for dominance in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia, due to its sheer size, wealth and being the custodian of Islam's holiest places, considers itself as a regional power. The Iranians not only challenge this assertion but also try to undo the Saudi influence wherever they can. The two sides are involved in covert wars in Yemen and Syria while their interests clash in Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon. Recently, Saudis announced a 34-nations alliance against terrorism which does not include Iran.
The Iranians were apparently happy regarding Syria, where all the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and its allies for a regime change have run into a dead end. President Bashar al-Assad survived with the help of Iran. However, the Ayatollahs should not be carried away, as this was made possible only after President Vladimir Putin put his foot down.
The thaw in the ties between Iran and the U.S. is also a source of worry for the Saudis as they fear that any normalization between Tehran and Washington may reduce their strategic importance in the Western world.
The new round of tension prompted by execution of the Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, will only add to the regional problems. The most serious issues, such as how to tackle the Islamic State or encourage peace in Syria, might take a backseat until the Saudis and the Iranians settle their scores.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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