3 Reasons That Make Saudi Arabia Hostile to Iran

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia and Iran are influential countries in the Middle East. However, the two of them seem to have had a less than harmonious relationship for some time.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to restore relations. However, the relationship still feels as hot as before.

So, what is the real reason Saudi Arabia is hostile to Iran? Compiled from various sources, Thursday (18/4/2024), here are a number of known causes.

Reasons why Saudi Arabia is hostile to Iran

1. Geopolitical Rivalry

As explained above, Saudi Arabia and Iran are two countries that have great influence in the Middle East. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see competition to get more attention from other countries in the region.

Quoting the Best Diplomats page, on the one hand, Iran has a geopolitical goal of strengthening its position as a regional power in the Middle East.

Viewing itself as the protector of Shia Muslims, it is not uncommon for its authorities to attempt to meet the needs of Shia populations around the world.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia, which has historically implemented a policy of domination over Sunni Muslims, views Iranian influence as a threat. This condition has indirectly made the relationship worse.

In practice, Iran and Saudi Arabia quite often offer assistance to parties involved in the conflict. As an example, we can take Syria and Yemen which are clear evidence of Saudi Arabia-Iran competition.

2. Religion

When discussing the unharmonious relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran, some people quite often link it to religious issues.