Dilip Hiro, a well-known Indian Journalist and a writer of several books about regional and international crises has been contributing opinion pieces and article-based content. The author has thoroughly examined every conceivable facet of geography, politics, history, and defense to illustrate the continuous struggle between Tehran and Riyadh. He explains the long-standing hostility between these adjacent nations and goes into detail about the intricate reasons behind and effects of their current disputes. He has been a member of the Middle East Studies Association of North America and the Center for Iranian Research and Analysis.
About Book:
The author aims to put the struggle between these regional superpowers i.e. Saudi Arabia and Iran, and explain why this new cold war is occurring. He thoroughly examined the competition between them, which dates back to the turn of the 20th century by summarizing the ongoing dispute between Tehran and Riyadh. The author describes the intensity of the struggle explains the underlying causes of the current rivalry between the two states, and provides a genealogy of the rivalry and significant events over nearly a century of hostility, divided into sixteen chapters. The author discussed current regional developments in 2018 in the epilogue, focusing on the complexities of US relations with Israel, the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, and Iran under President Trump and a comprehensive synopsis of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the fifteen chapters, along with the Shia and Sunni vertices of the Islamic Cold War.
Summary:
The book’s principal focus has been Saudi Arabia’s monarchist outlook. On the other hand, the Islamist image of Tehran also goes hand in hand. Imam Khomeini’s Iranian Revolution led to unpredictable ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both of the Middle Eastern governments experienced extreme hardship and destruction as a result of the Sunni-Shia war and the sector-based view of Sharia. Iran, which may have more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia, both oil-rich nations, have engaged in and are currently involved in economic conflict.
According to the author, the US “acquired pre-eminent influence” in both countries largely because of their enormous oil deposits. Iran and Saudi Arabia were both involved in the Washington elite’s nearly 25-year-long fight against the Soviet Union. In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Iran united to form the “pillars” of the Nixon Doctrine. Relations between Washington, Riyadh, and Tehran got complex when the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) gained prominence. The United States began meddling more in domestic Iranian affairs. Shah at the time redirected to turn to the Soviet Union for assistance, believing that the US would pull out of Iran together with the British leaving Kuwait, but that did not materialize.
The book’s seventh chapter highlights the significant contributions made by Tehran and Riyadh. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been polarizing due to their Sunni dominance and their oil reserves. Saudi Arabia deepened relations with neighboring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq, while Iran sought friendly ties with Shia-majority countries. Both governments have faced opposition due to King Faisal’s efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the Khomenei regime’s influence on regional powers. This has led to proxy wars in Syria and Yemen.
Analysis:
The author appears to be biased in favor of Iran while presenting Riyadh as an aggressive regional ally. Countless figures, interviews, and slogans inspired by narratives may be found throughout the book. This partiality demonstrates that not all of the factors that cause both situations to occur are equally explained. Furthermore, the Sunni sect’s viewpoint has been muted while the ideals of the Shia portion have been supported throughout the entire novel, especially in the earlier chapters. Everything else is incredibly explained, including numbers and statistics, remarks and interviews, arrivals and departures.
It is clear from the book that numerous statements lack footnotes. In several of the book’s chapters, only a biased opinion is expressed. However, it can resolve some mysteries about the competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran and how international forces contributed to it. The stance of denouncing Saudi Arabia and supporting Iranian actions has not changed. However, the rivalry’s history, weapon race, and underlying causes are expertly illustrated.
The macro-analysis is absent, even though the conclusion highlights the domestic shifts occurring in the Kingdom and offers up-to-date insights into the changing nature of the region. Although the book provides the reader with a thorough understanding of the events, it does not offer analytical or deductive patterns that can only be obtained by extensive scholarly research.
Conclusion:
The primary element influencing the geopolitical trajectory of the Middle East area in 2018 is the zero-sum competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran for supremacy. Fresh Palestinian insurrections against Israel and Turkey’s unilateral military operations in Syria have the potential to intensify and complicate the situation even more. Both nations are influencing geopolitics in the ME, which includes Central Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, well beyond their boundaries. The Atlantic partners should align their strategies and approaches towards the Middle East and the Saudi-Iranian rivalry to achieve peace and stability in the region and other parts of the world. If they don’t, the rivals of Saudi Arabia and Iran will no longer be implausible, as anti-democratic forces in the region and around the world will exploit this split.
The Author, Mahpara Gull is an independent researcher holding a Bachelor's degree in IR with a focus on Foreign Policy and Diplomacy.
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