The two majority Islamic countries are geographically separated by only a few miles of Persian Gulf.

But ideologically, politically, and culturally, the gap is much wider. Currently, the two

are engaged in a “proxy war” in Yemen, with both sides recruiting allies in order

to influence middle eastern affairs. So, why do Saudi Arabia and Iran hate each other?*

Well, back in 1929 the future looked bright for the two nations. They’d signed the “Saudi-Iranian

Friendship Treaty” and diplomatic relations were on the rise. However, sometime in the

60s, the conservative nature of Saudi Arabia ruffled feathers in the modernizing Iran.

Anecdotally, Iran’s king or Shah was said to have reached out to Saudi Arabia’s King,

saying, “Please, my brother, modernize. Open up your country... Let women wear miniskirts.

Have discos. Be modern.” In response, the Saudi king replied, “You are not the Shah

of France... You are in Iran. Your population is 90 percent Muslim. Please don't forget

that."

In fact, despite both countries being predominantly Muslim, each has a different, and opposing,

Islamic sect as the religious majority. In short, the Saudis follow Wahhabism, also called

Salafism, an ultra-conservative sect of the Sunni faith, while Iranians are mostly “Twelvers”

of the Shia faith. The divide between Shia and Sunni is largely based on who they believe

is the true successor of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. Most of the world’s Muslims identify

as Sunni, and nearly half of the world’s Shiites live in Iran.

In 1979, Iran underwent a revolution that ousted the westernized, US-backed Shah, and

instituted an Islamic republic led by a religious authority, Ayatollah Khomeini. The now anti-US

Iran began openly condemning Saudi Arabia’s religious authority and support for the US.

In the late 80s, possibly spurred by Saudi Arabia and the US’s significant backing

of Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War, the Ayatollah made a number of inflammatory comments. After

calling the Saudis a “band of heretics”, diplomatic relations between the two countries

stalled.

But by 2007, tensions had relaxed enough that the Iranian President visited Saudi Arabia

as a friendly gesture. In 2011 there was an assassination attempt by Iranian nationals

against the Saudi ambassador to the US. At the same time, Iran supported Syrian president

Bashar-al Assad against US and Saudi forces during the Syrian civil war. This reignited

Iran and Saudi Arabia’s ideologically rivalry.

Since the 1960s, the two countries have been fighting for influence and control of the

Middle East along religious and political lines. Currently they are engaged in a proxy

war in Yemen, exemplifying the Sunni/Shia East/West divide.

If you want to learn more about the conflict in Yemen and Saudi Arabia and Iran’s fight

to control the Middle East, check out these two videos. One’s all about where Yemen’s

civil war started, and the one below is about how it’s essentially become a proxy war.

Thanks for watching!