Cold war in the Middle East

 Cold war in the Middle East

Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the relations of Tehran with Washington have remained tense. Dispute between both the capitals has brought instability to the entire Middle Eastern region because Saudi Arabia also got embroiled in the conflict. Since then, the two regional powers- Riyadh and Tehran- are fighting a cold war with each other. Many observers argue that there are two main factors behind this hostility. Either the two countries are vying for regional dominance or are claiming the leadership of the Muslim Ummah.

 

In militaristic terms, Iran has an upper hand over Saudi Arabia. Hezbollah and Hamas are being funded by Tehran. Similarly, forces in Iraq and Syria are backed by the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. In diplomatic terms, Iran has developed friendly relations with powerful countries like China and Russia. Both of these global powers are investing heavily in Tehran. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has a close partnership with the USA, the Gulf countries, and even Israel.

 

The partnership between Riyadh and Washington has withstood the tests of time. Saudi Arabia was against the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan. Likewise, 15 hijackers of the 9/11 episode were Saudi nationals. The murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is another similar case. When it comes to the commonalities, there are three main factors. Firstly, Saudi Arabia is the top buyer of American weapons. Secondly, Washington is purchasing oil from Riyadh. Thirdly, there is a fear in both the capitals that Riyadh may get nuclear weapons. Presently, these shared interests are dominating the divergences in relations.

 

So far, Iran and Saudi Arabia have not got involved in any full-blown military conflict. Instead, both regional powers are fighting proxy wars in other countries. It is hoped that both of these arch-rivals will not involve in any direct military conflict. Otherwise, it will bring catastrophe to the already volatile region. There are few shared interests of these countries. Both are top exporters of oil and claim themselves to be the champion of Palestinian rights. It is hoped that Tehran and Riyadh will capitalize on the shared interests to bring stability to the Middle Eastern.