The Middle East is one of the most complex regions in the world. Currently (2017), there are four failing states: Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, and three wars in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. **Saudi Arabia are Iran are bitter rivals**, and their feud is the key to understanding conflicts in the Middle East. They've never declared war on each other directly, instead they fight via proxy wars for control of the Middle East. #### Saudi Arabia In the early 1900s, the Arabian peninsula was a patchwork of tribes under the control of the Ottoman Empire. After WW1, the empire collapsed (1920), leaving the tribes fighting for power. Eventually, the al-Saud tribe conquered most of the peninsula. They were recognized as the **Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932**. In 1938, oil reserves were discovered and made the monarchy rich; this initiated an alliance with the USA. #### Iran On the eastern side of the Persian Gulf, Iran (known as Persia until 1935) was emerging. Iran also had oil reserves and an even bigger Muslim population. However, constant foreign intervention was causing chaos. Iran had been invaded by Russia in the 1800s, Britain in 1907, then again by both Russia and Britain in 1941. In 1953, prioritizing its Cold War era strategic interests, the **US staged a coup** (Operation Ajax), **ousting popular Prime Minister Mossaddegh and restoring the Shah**'s (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's) full authority. PM Mossaddegh championed national sovereignty and democracy; and his nationalization of oil reserves angered Britain and the US. >[!info] Iran's Constitutional Monarchy and "the Shah" >"Shah" is the Persian word for **king**. It was the titled used by monarchs for centuries. > >Iran had a **constitutional monarchy** from 1906 to 1979, which meant the country had both a monarch and a parliamentary system with a prime minister, similar to countries like the UK. > >When people refer to "**the Shah**," without a specific name, they are often referring to the last Shah of Iran, **Mohammad Reza Shah** (or full name Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), in power from 1941 to 1979. Ultimately, the Shah was not as popular, and did not have the same authority and legitimacy. This culminated in the **1979 Iranian Revolution**, wherein Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah. **This sparked the real tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia**. Ayatollah Khomeini was a Muslim clergyman who preached against Western-backed secular monarchies. He advocated for a government that was popular, Islamic, and led by the clergy. The government of Saudi Arabia was terrified of the Iranian Revolution, fearful that Ayatollah Khomeini would inspire their population to rise up against them. There was a religious element too. The Saudis claimed to be the leaders of the Muslim world. Largely because Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are in Saudi Arabia. But Khomeini claimed his popular revolution made Iran the legitimate Muslim state. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's population is mostly Sunni, the majority sect of Islam, while Iran is mostly Shia. As Saudi Arabia feared, Iran then began exporting its revolution. A 1980 CIA report showed how Iran was helping groups, mostly Shia, try to overthrow governments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. This prompted Saudi Arabia to react. They bolstered their alliance with the US and formed the Gulf Cooperation Council. In September, 1980, Iraq under the rule of Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran. He was hoping to stop the Iranian revolution and annex some of Iran's oil. When Iran started winning, Saudi Arabia started to assist Iraq with weapons and intelligence. The fight lasted until 1998. In 2003, the US invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein. Neither Saudi Arabia or Iran wanted this, since Iraq acted as a buffer between them. The US makes one mistake after another that creates a failed state in Iraq. Sunni and Shia militia sprang up who aimed to gain power. Saudi Arabia began supporting the Sunni militia, Iran the Shia militia. Then the Arab Spring occurred in 2011, a series of anti-monarchy, pro-democracy protests that swept through the Middle East. This was terrifying to the Saudis who were the ultimate status quo power. The Iranians are the ultimate anti-status quo power. This kicked off civil wars and conflict throughout the Middle East, supported by both Iran and Saudi Arabia.